He examined the cuff of his shirt as he asked, as though they were talking about nothing more important than the weather.
“Yes it’s true I do volunteer at Imani House. But that’s not a crime the last time I
checked, Detective.” His arms were tightly crossed over his frail chest, and his upper lip drew back in a sneer when he addressed Jordan.
“No that’s not a crime, James, but what is a crime is sending threatening letters and
murder. Yeah, mother fucker. Murder’s a crime the last time I checked,” Mark nearly exploded as he stared at the little man, holding back the urge to pick his ass up and throw him across the room.
“I told you--I do not know what you’re talking about. I think Dr. Richardson is a
wonderful, dedicated woman, even if her taste in men does suck.” He insolently drew out the last word.
“We’re betting you do know what we’re talking about asshole,” Jordan countered.
As Jordan spoke, Mark had moved to stand behind the clerk, and it was then he noticed
the thin gold chain around his neck. He walked around to face James and grabbed the small
medallion that hung attached to the chain.
“What the hell is this then?” Mark didn’t want to break the small delicate chain because
he knew how much it meant to Maya, “Take it off mother fucker,” he growled, and barely
refrained from tearing it from his neck.
With shaking hands, the clerk hastily did as he was instructed and handed it to Mark. “It
was a gift, a gift from my sister,” he stuttered as Mark turned the small half-moon charm over in his hand, and read the inscription.
Mark grabbed the small clerk by his collar, and with little effort, hoisted him up, muscles bulging, as he held James inches away from his face.
“You’ve got less than two seconds to start telling me the goddamn truth, you little son-of-
a-bitch, or I will rip your ass apart,” he said between gritted teeth, enunciating each word slowly.
James quickly spoke, “It really was a gift. Okay. Okay not from my sister,” he admitted
quickly, his teeth rattling when Mark shook him once in warning. “It was from my lover.”
Jordan and Mark looked at the man and simultaneously shouted, “What goddamn lover?”
Although still afraid, the clerk stared defiantly at the two detectives, and then said a name that made both men’s eyes widen, and jaws drop in morbid disbelief, leaving a stunned, comical look on their faces, before they sprung into action.
* * * *
The hotel room was dark and quiet. The only audible sound came from the warm San
Antonio air as it wafted into the opened windows, accompanied with the natural sounds of the night.
No sound came from the man who lay still on the bed. His eyes were closed, seemingly
in sleep. He tilted his head slightly to the side, as though listening carefully, in silent communication with some unseen person.
Nicolai eyes opened wide, and a name escaped, from tightly clenched lips; Jaime
Hernandez. Picking up his cell, Nic quickly dialed, before leaping into action.
CHAPTER 50
“Where’s Lieutenant Hernandez?” Mark asked the night officer.
Lou looked up from his crossword puzzle and answered, “He left around the same time
you and Detective Phillips left the squad room.”
“Shit,” in unison Mark and Jordan spoke, knowing without being told, where he was
headed, the next words coming from the night officer confirmed their fears.
“He said he was headed over to Imani House and he’d take care of everything.”
“Send back up right away to Imani House Lou, we have a dangerous situation. And
inform the officers that Lieutenant Hernandez is considered armed and dangerous,” Mark yelled out as he and Jordan ran, top speed, out of the precinct.
“Lieutenant Hernandez? Armed and dangerous? What the hell?” Lou asked their
retreating backs.
Mark picked up his cell phone with trembling fingers, and dialed Maya’s personal line at
Imani House, frantically praying she would answer the phone. He jumped inside the passenger seat as Jordan got behind the driver’s seat. He impatiently waited for Maya to pick up the phone.
When she answered in her normal voice, he almost wept with relief.
“Maya I’m not sure how much time we have, but you have got to get out of there
sweetheart. Where’s your guard?” He didn’t take the time out to greet her, fear making his voice tremble.
“My guard is right outside Dalia’s office. I’ve been working in here since we got off the
phone and I haven’t seen him, but I’m sure he’s still there. What’s going on, Mark? You’re
scaring me.”
“Maya get out of there and have the guard take you to my parent’s house. He knows the
address, now Maya,” he yelled, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Okay I am. I’m going to my door now,” she didn’t question him. A knock on her door
came within seconds of her reply.
“Maya ask who it is-- Don’t…” It was too late. Mark could hear her open the door.
“Lieutenant Hernandez what are you doing here?” Mark could hear her ask.
“Maya listen, the lieutenant is very dangerous, get out of there, baby, and go to the guard right away, Maya … Maya…” Looking down at his cell phone, he saw the call had been
disconnected.
He turned to Jordan, blinded with tears, and said in a hoarse voice, “He’s there. He’s with her.”
“Man we’ll get to her, we’ll get to her.” Jordan drove as fast as the sedan could go,
stretching his driving skills to the limit, as they sped along the San Antonio streets, frantically trying to reach Maya before it was too late.
* * * *
After pressing the end button on the wireless phone, Lieutenant Hernandez calmly
pushed Maya back into her office, and closed the door, the sound of the lock piercing, in the quiet of the room.
“Was that your boyfriend on the line Dr. Richardson?”
