Had a Great Fall (An Olivia Thompson Mystery) Read online

  “You’re adorable.” Olivia couldn’t stay annoyed at him when he was being so sweet. “But I really can handle it. I mean, I was shot and I’m still fine.”

  She neglected to mention the nightmares she had every night.

  “Exactly, Liv.” He looked urgently into her eyes. “You were shot. You could have died.”

  “Four girls have gone missing, Nate. One of them is dead.” She returned his urgent stare. “Like it or not, this is the stuff I understand. Monsters are my specialty. It’s too late for Melanie, but I might be able to help those other girls.”

  Nate stared back, waiting for her to back down. When she didn’t waiver, he said, “I need to go get ready for work. I’ll drive you home on my way into the station.”

  “I can grab a cab,” Olivia said.

  “No, you can’t. I’m going to drive you there so you can change and then you’re coming with me to the station.” Nate squeezed her hand and then let go. “There’s still a few hours before your first class. That should be enough time for us to review what we know so far about the murder and abductions.”

  Olivia was surprised. She hadn’t expected Nate to cave so quickly. It wasn’t until they were entering the station that she stopped thinking he was going to change his mind.

  It was early enough that they were two of the only people in the station aside from the officers working the overnight shift.

  “Wow. Look at all that clutter on your desk,” Olivia joked, plopping into Nate’s desk chair. It had been a few months since the last time she had visited him at work, but she had no problem making herself at home.

  “You’re funny,” Nate said, grabbing Vince’s chair and wheeling it next to her.

  Olivia had initially thought that Nate’s desk was empty, save for a computer and a stack of files. But she had missed one personal touch next to the monitor- a framed picture.

  Olivia remembered someone snapping the photo a few months earlier when she had met up with Nate and his police buddies at a nearby bar. They hadn’t been dating at the time, but no one would be able to tell by looking at the picture. It had captured them candidly smiling at each other, completely enthralled by the mere presence of each other. Olivia decided that she loved the picture.

  “I’m desk-worthy!” she said, putting a hand over her heart. “Man, this is starting to get official.”

  “Shut up,” he said, ducking his head to hide the flush of his cheeks. “We are here to work, Thompson.”

  She decided to let it drop. They had serious things to discuss.

  While Nate logged into his computer, Olivia helped herself to the case file. She knew from experience that it was best to skip the autopsy photos. That was one part of Nate’s job that she would never get used to.

  “You won’t find much in there,” Nate said, clicking away. “Leo is finishing up the official report and we haven’t interviewed friends and family yet.”

  “Okay… What are we doing here then?” she asked.

  Nate finished clicking. “Here are the electronic records on the missing girls. Start reading. I’ll get us some coffee.”

  Olivia pulled herself closer to the computer and started reading. After just a minute, she realized that she needed to make notes. Because Nate was so freakishly neat with his desk, she had to open a drawer to look for a pen and paper. The first drawer she opened stopped her short.

  Rosie’s file.

  She had almost forgotten that she had told Nate to get the official police file. It was so tempting, just the thought of the information that Olivia might find inside. Over the years she had built up a personal file on her sister, but she had never seen the official case file. Nate had given her summaries of the information, but he had never showed it to her. It was probably for her own good. There would be things inside that she would never be able to forget if she saw them.

  Olivia had to tell herself that several times before she was able to shut the drawer. She noticed a pen and notepad on Vince’s desk and reached over to the take them. Focus on the task at hand, she said to herself.

  “Coffee, babe.” Nate placed a mug in front of her, catching her by surprise.

  “Babe?” she shot back without looking away from the screen. Nate knew that she hated that pet name.

  His hand squeezed her shoulder. “Sorry. Coffee, darling. Better?”

  “None of these girls look the same,” she said, perplexed. “It doesn’t seem like the abductor was targeting a certain physical appearance. All they really have in common is being female and in college.”

  “You’re supposed to be helping, Liv. I already knew that.” He perched on the edge of the desk, his long legs stretched before him. “They had one other thing in common. They were all very pretty.”

  Olivia nodded. She had noticed that, too. “Maybe that is the motive, too. He could have something against attractive women.”

  “Jealousy? Or lust?” Nate looked down at her notes. “Hedonist?”

  “Hedonistic killers can be motivated by lust. If sex is the primary motive, the fantasy is a huge part of the killing. The killer gets sexual gratification from the torture of the victims. It makes sense if the killer strangled Melanie with his hands.” Olivia frowned. “If this guy is a hedonist, that also explains the decrease in the times between the abductions, and the fact that he took two girls this last time.”

  Nate tapped his foot rhythmically against the linoleum floor. “You don’t sound convinced. What are the other options?”

  “He could be power-motivated. He needs to exert control over the victim. It’s possible he was abused as a child and now feels inadequate as an adult. The sexual assault isn’t about lust, but rather about dominating the victim.” Olivia had quickly checked Nate’s notes to confirm that Melanie had been assaulted.

  “How many different types of sickos are there in the world?” Nate wondered rhetorically.

  “Too many.” Olivia turned back to the computer. “Of course, there’s also the possibility that this isn’t a lone offender. He could have an accomplice.”

  In three large gulps, Olivia had finished her coffee. She wondered if it would be too demanding to ask Nate for a refill.

  “Just what we needed. Two psychopaths.” Nate tapped her notepad. “Any other tips on who I should be looking for?”

  “Well for one thing, he may not by a psychopath. That’s a very specific personality trait. We also have to consider the possibility that we aren’t dealing with a serial killer at all. So far we only have one body. The death could’ve been accidental.” Olivia thought it was interesting that he had kept Melanie for three weeks before killing her.

  Nate looked at her doubtfully. “All that torture and you think the death was an accident?”

  “I don’t think that. I just said that it’s possible. He might have been planning to keep the girls for his own perverted fantasy.” She stood up. “I need a break. Point me in the direction of the coffee?”

  “I’ll get it.” He reached for the mug. After a quick glance around the room, he kissed Olivia. “I could get used to these working conditions.”

  “I don’t think Vince is going to be very happy when he finds out you’ve replaced him.” Olivia leaned back against the desk. She enjoyed the view as she watched him cross the room. A few other detectives had arrived in the last couple of minutes and they all greeted him. Olivia noted that he was cordial to all of them, but not overtly friendly.

  “Hey.”

  Olivia’s head swiveled in the direction of the voice. She found a serious looking guy hunkered at a nearby desk. Somehow both she and Nate had missed his arrival.

  “Hi,” she said, not sure how to respond.

  “I’m Barnes.” His head tilted. “You’re Tucker’s girlfriend.”

  She couldn’t tell if he was making a statement or asking a question. “I’m Olivia.”

  “I’ve seen your picture on his desk.” Barnes stood and came closer. “You’ve been the talk of the station lately.”

&n
bsp; “Me? Why?” She wasn’t sure she liked the way he was looking at her.

  “Tucker is a bit of a mystery. He never talks about his personal life. We know that he was married, then divorced. But that’s only because of the vanishing wedding ring and a few mail deliveries from divorce lawyers.” He squinted at her, eyes scanning her from head to toe. “But then you came along. He’s been different lately, and I suspect that’s because of you.”

  She didn’t like what he was insinuating. “Nate and I have been friends for over ten years. And I’m not willing to discuss his personal life with you.”

  “You’re out of his league, you know? He’s an average detective that has already passed his prime. Give him five more years and he’ll be fat, bald, and on the path towards becoming an alcoholic.” Barnes was so deep into his tirade that he didn’t notice Nate stepping up behind him. “You should get out now while you’re still young and attractive.”

  Nate stepped around him, smoothly handing Olivia her coffee. “I see you’ve met Detective Barnes. I’d like to congratulate you for not punching him.”

  “Yet,” Olivia added.

  “Barnes is working the missing persons’ cases,” Nate explained “He’s also a giant prick.”

  “I noticed,” she muttered, sipping her coffee. She turned to Barnes. “I’ve found that guys who are giant pricks are typically compensating for their tiny pricks. Care to comment?”

  He first glared at her, then smirked. “She’s sassy, Tucker. You should try to hang onto this one. I think I might like her.”

  “Glad to have your approval.” Nate took a seat and swiveled his chair away from Barnes, effectively ending the conversation.

  “I need to get to class soon,” Olivia said. She noticed that Barnes was backing away slowly, clearly still listening.

  “I can drive you.” Nate’s hand brushed her bare leg.

  She fixed him with a level stare. “Nate. I can get to work just fine on my own.”

  “I know.” He smiled sheepishly. “I’m just not ready to say goodbye yet.”

  “Well played.” She froze as his hand traveled further up her leg. “Feeling bold, Detective Tucker?”

  “You can’t dangle those killer legs in front of me and expect me to restrain myself.” He reached up and loosened his tie a fraction of an inch.

  More and more people were filing in to start their day. Olivia recognized a few familiar faces, and many people looked surprised to see her. “Your partner is here,” she said.

  Nate’s hand quickly dropped away, but it was too late.

  “Olivia!” Vince’s voice bellowed across the room. He sauntered over with a goofy grin on his face. “Tucker finally decided to bring his woman into the station. This is a big day.”

  “Indeed.” Olivia noticed that Nate’s face had turned red. “Unfortunately, I was just getting ready to leave.”

  “What?” Vince played disappointed. “So soon? We haven’t had a chance to catch up yet.”

  Olivia stood and reached for her notepad. As she shoved it into her bag, she said, “Let’s do that over a beer sometime, okay?”

  “That sounds like an excellent plan.” Vince turned to his partner. “I’m sure Nate will be glad to set that up.”

  “Thrilled,” Nate muttered. “I’m going to walk Olivia out. Make yourself useful while I’m gone and see if you can get the official report from Leo.”

  Vince rolled his eyes. “Sure thing, boss.”

  Olivia waited until they were outside before saying, “You really should try harder to make friends, Nater.”

  “I don’t need more friends,” he replied, easily dismissing her advice. “Why do you even care?”

  “Because you are my best friend and I know that you are an amazing guy. I don’t know why you won’t let anyone else see that side of you.” She grabbed his tie and used it to pull him close. “Then again, at least I don’t have to share you with anyone.”

  “I don’t know.” His arms went around her waist. “I think Barnes is a big fan of mine.”

  “I think you are delusional.” She pushed up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Is it safe to assume that you will be working late tonight?”

  He nodded slowly. “That’s a safe assumption. Would it be too presumptive to assume that you won’t mind me coming over late?”

  “I’ll take you any way I can get you.” Olivia gave him another kiss, this one longer, before pulling away. “Go solve crime, Tucker.”

  “In a minute.” He stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. “I just want to enjoy the view first.”

  Olivia laughed and worked her hips extra hard as she sauntered out to the street. It only took her a second to flag down a cab. Once she was inside, her phone vibrated with a text message.

  Nate: Forgot to tell you something.

  Olivia: What?

  Nate: You’re my best friend, too.

  Olivia: Duh. I’m your only friend.

  Nate: Thanks, Thompson.

  Olivia: I love you anyway.

  Nate: Good. See you tonight.

  The cab driver didn’t notice that she was intently focused on her phone.

  “You got a thing with the police department?’ he asked.

  “Not the whole department,” she replied without thinking. Quickly, she added, “I’m helping a detective out with a case.”

  “You should be careful,” the cabbie said. “Bad things have been happening to pretty girls like you.”

  Olivia subconsciously touched her scar. “Maybe so, but pretty girls like me are also capable of doing bad things.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Something sharp poked Dani in the back. She tried to use her hand to move the object, but was surprised to find that she couldn’t. Her eyes were open, but the room she was in was completely dark. It would take time for her eyes to adjust.

  One thing she knew for sure- she wasn’t in a good place. Dani could practically smell death in the air.

  “Maddy?” she whispered so quietly that she almost couldn’t hear it herself. She desperately wanted to know that her friend was okay, but she was also frightened about who else might be lurking in the dark.

  No one responded.

  Her vision finally started to pick up subtle outlines in the dark. She also discovered that while her left hand was tied to something, her right hand was free. When she reached beneath her to move the sharp object that was stabbing her, she learned that she was actually lying on a mattress. It was a hard mattress with springs poking her, but it was a mattress all the same.

  The room that she was in was small, with concrete walls on three sides and bars on the forth. It was best described as a prison cell. Only in this cell, she didn’t have to share bunk beds with anyone. She was alone.

  After she was able to adjust herself so that the springs weren’t completely making her miserable, she started groping at what was binding her left arm. It felt like some sort of large shackle, not something she could remove on her own in the dark. There was nothing she could do, no amount of struggling that would free her. She just had to wait.

  As she waited, Dani plotted her revenge on the person that had abducted her.

  It must’ve been hours later. The room was slowly filling with light from a small barred window near the ceiling. A door opened somewhere in the distance and loud footsteps came closer until the hulking figure stood just on the other side of the bars.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “You have been distracted all day, man.” Vince glanced over, taking his eyes off the road for just a second. “Trouble in paradise?”

  “I’m concentrating on the case,” Nate said, easily sidestepping his partner’s implication. “You should be concentrating on the road.”

  Vince laughed. “Further proving my point. You never let me drive.”

  “I’m feeling generous today.” Nate quickly checked his phone just in case he had missed a message from Olivia. It was her first day back at work since her abduction and injury. Even tho
ugh Nate knew her attacker was in a coma in a hospital bed, he still felt uneasy about her resuming her normal life. It was part of why he had been so distracted. “Melanie’s friends weren’t very helpful. Let’s hope the other contacts have more to offer.”

  “They’re just college kids, Tucker. They are focused on classes and parties and getting laid. They aren’t paying attention to suspicious strangers that might abduct their friends.” Vince pulled his car into a spot in front of one of the dorm buildings. “Try not to make them cry this time.”

  Nate glared at him. It hadn’t entirely been his fault that the girls at the last stop had all become hysterical. They had already been upset because their sorority sister was dead. Nate’s questions were just bad timing. “Teenage girls have never been my biggest fans.”

  “I find that hard to believe.” Vince turned off the engine and opened his door. “Just try not to be a dick.”

  “Sure. And you should try not to be such a pushover. We need to get some answers soon.” Nate wasn’t interested in babying people that might have information. “Is this it?”

  “It is.” Vince looked up at the building. “Dani’s room is on the eighth floor. Her roommate should be home. When I called, she said she would wait for us.”

  They found their way inside and followed a group of laughing girls onto an elevator. Nate did his best to avoid eye contact, but they struck up a conversation anyway.

  “What’s with the suits?” The girl closest to Vince asked. She was clearly the pack leader.

  “Our capes are at the cleaners,” he replied with a smile. Vince was always too nice for his own good.

  The girls all giggled. The short one said, “I would’ve thought you were more of a shining armor kind of guy.”

  “Not since I gave up my horse,” Vince said.

  The elevator stopped on the eighth floor and Nate hurried out. The overwhelming smell of hair product and perfume was making his head swim.

  “Take care, ladies,” Vince said, shooting them one last smile.

  “Really?” Nate said after the door shut. “They are still teenagers, man.”