Chris Redding - Corpse Whisperer

Finally, the two detectives that had brought her in arrived in the room.

“I’m Detective Harding. This is Detective Warren.”

Harding had a day’s growth of beard on a loose-fleshed face. Warren was younger and slimmer as if he hadn’t grown into his body yet. Mark looked like that when they first met.

“Why am I here and do I need a lawyer?”

Harding sat on the edge of the table, on the opposite of her. His warm smile didn’t soothe her. “Please don’t do the ‘good cop/bad cop.’”

“We have some questions about your version of the story.”

“My version?”

Grace’s mouth went dry. She’d been in interrogation rooms before today. And the scenario had always worked out, but not without a fight. She steeled herself.

“You say you heard the shot and came running from your apartment.”

“Yes.”

“But you didn’t see anyone exit Ms. Holten’s house.”

“No, but I wasn’t looking either. The night was dark and there were no lights on.”

“You didn’t turn on an outside light?”

“The one outside of my place had blown out and I had not replaced it.”

Dolores could corroborate her story. If she were alive.

“Did anyone else notice this?”

“Other than my landlord?”

“Yes.”

“Not that I know of.”

“Ms. Holten maybe?”

“Yes, but I don’t think she’s in any state to tell you that.”

The detectives exchanged a glance.

“She’s dead isn’t she?”

“Now why would you think that?” Harding asked.

“Because of your look. The one that passed between you.”

“We found the murder weapon.”

Ah, here it comes. “Where?”

“In the trashcan on the other side of the garage.” “Makes sense if he came out of Dolores’ house and ran.”

“He? Why do you think it’s a ‘he’?”

“I assumed,” she said.

“Or you know something about it?” Warren this time.

Her head went back and forth as if she were at a tennis match making her neck ache. “No, I don’t. I’m done talking. I want a lawyer.”

Warren frowned. “I don’t think a lawyer is going to help you out of this one.”

“Oh?”

Her pulse quickened. They think she did it?

“Nope, not this time.”

Zach pulled into a spot, set the brake and opened his door in one motion. Kyle had actually beaten him here.

His spirits rose a little. “Kyle.” He held out his hand.

His friend took it and they shook and hugged. “So tell me the story.”

“Maybe you should hear it from Grace.”

“And how do you know Grace?”

“Lors rented her garage apartment to her.”

“I’m still not getting the connection.”

“Always eager to bust my chops aren’t you?”

Kyle’s white smile brightened an otherwise bleak day. “You bet.”

Zach didn’t bother with the front desk. He knew Grace would be stewing in an interrogation room. Josh Warren stopped him before he entered.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To see Grace.”

“She’s asked for a lawyer.”

“And I have one for her.”

Josh eyed Kyle. “He can go in.”

Zach motioned for Kyle to see Grace. “I’ll bring you some coffee.”

“Thanks,” he said.

Zach filled two cups with coffee and located a bottle of water in small refrigerator in the detective’s room. Returning to where Grace was, Zach barged in.

Her gaze met his. She was scared. Taking the water she thanked him, but turned away, no hint that they’d almost slept together that night. He leaned against the wall, his coffee in hand.

Acting like he belonged there, he figured he had about five minutes before they kicked him out.

Kyle glanced his way. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

“With all due respect, I’d like to have a private conversation with my client.”

“We’re on the same side, Zach.”

“Still I have a right to see her in private.”

Zach frowned, knowing he was right. He nodded at Grace, who didn’t acknowledge him, then left.

Grace was getting out.

Kyle had told her they couldn’t hold her. She submitted to fingerprinting, but she knew hers wouldn’t match any on the gun.

So she stood outside the police station, drinking in her freedom. The day hadn’t seemed so warm or inviting.

Zach stopped next to her. “Give you a lift?”

Where did he stand in all this? “You think I did it?”

“No.” His head shook from side to side. “But they must or they wouldn’t have brought you in. You sure you didn’t see anyone?”

She sighed. Ever the cop. Could he not be for five minutes? “No and I’ve said that a million times today.”

“Sorry.”

He put a hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged it off. “Maybe you shouldn’t be consorting with a murder suspect.”

“Grace.”

Her name on his lips stopped her. “You aren’t a suspect or you’d still be in there.”

“I’m out here because of Kyle.” She looked up at him. He seemed taller to her. His jet black hair was a little more rumpled than usual. His eyes were just as steely. “Thanks.”

He put a hand on her arm. “Look I have to go shower and get to work. Let me drop you somewhere.”

“I’m going home.”

“You sure you want to be there?”

“Yes, I need to sleep. I have to work tonight.” A thought occurred to her. “I need to get into the morgue.”

“For what?”

She waved a hand away. “I’ll find another ride. I have something to do at the hospital.”

She left him standing on the steps.

He’d live. She’d almost forgotten that she needed to see Dolores. She only had a few minutes or her power would be gone. She’d never save Dolores. Zach may forgive her, but she couldn’t forgive herself

The morgue attendant wasn’t so keen on that idea. “She’s due for an autopsy this morning.”

“Just a peek before you cut her up.”

“This some closure thing?”

“Right.”

The tall, thin man frowned. “Okay.”

He led her to a drawer in a stark, cold room. “She’s in here. You have five minutes.”

Graced braced herself for a rewind.

She wasn’t disappointed.

The sun shone as it had the first two times she went through that day.

But this time Dolores was shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry I just rented the apartment to someone.”

“Oh,” Grace said unsure of where to go from here. This hadn’t happened last time. Maybe she could talk the tenant out of this place. She’d have to think of some great story.

Gee, the landlady’s going to get killed and I need to be there to save her. Like I did the last two times I was here.

They’d be fitting her with a straitjacket for sure.

Dolores put a hand on her hip. “Anything else?”

She was being dismissed. “Uh, no.”

Zach pulled up at that moment. He strode over to them full of authority. Her heart burst at the sight of him, but she tamped it down. He didn’t know her from Adam.

“Problem?” Zach said. His mirrored sunglasses obscured his eyes, but she knew his gaze would go right through her.

Dolores spoke before Grace could form any words. “I’m trying to tell this woman I rented the apartment already. She isn’t leaving. She insists I should rent it to her.”

Zach looked over his sunglasses. “Oh? You have a problem miss?”

Grace shook her head, wondering what she’d said and why was this time even more different than the last rewind. Thoughts swirled in her brain. Someone was doing something different each time. But who would know to do that, but her and she did everything the same as she could.