Detective Partners (25 page)

"Very good, Detective," he said softly.

"Is it him?" Galen breathed.

Nicole nodded. She took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down. She could do this. Taking a seat, she gripped the receiver with a hand that wasn't quite steady. "Good morning, Judas. Thank you for calling."

"Did you think I wouldn't?" he inquired.

"I wasn't sure what to think." She watched as Galen perched on her desk. She gazed up at him and he winked at her. His nearness calmed her and she sank back in her chair.

"I saw you on the news yesterday," Judas told her. "I am flattered that you would go to the trouble just to talk with me. Why were you nervous?"

"You could tell I was nervous?"

"I could," he said. "Why?"

"I - I don't like to be the center of attention," she confessed.

"I see," he said. "Well, you looked lovely."

"Thank you." Nicole licked her lips.

"I am going to keep this call brief, Detective," Judas informed her. "I am very busy today. I made time just to speak with you."

"I appreciate it," she said. "May I ask you a question?"

"You may, but I might not answer it."

"Why are you singling me out?" Nicole asked. "I mean why are you bothering to take time out of your busy schedule to write to m to call me?"

"You are special, Detective Goodwin," Judas said. "You are not like the others. You exude innocence. You are like a delicate flower surrounded by thorns. I have spent much time speaking with God about you. He wishes for you and me to be friends. Would you like that, Detective Goodwin?"

"I would," she lied, "and please
call
me Nicole."

"I must say goodbye for now, Nicole," he said. "I will be in touch soon."

"I look forward to talking with you again."

"I'm glad," Judas said. "May God shine upon you in all that you
do.
Goodbye, Nicole."

"Goodbye, Judas." The line went dead. Slowly, she hung up the phone.

"Are you all right?" Galen asked, worried about her. He took her hand and found it was cold as ice. "Sweetheart-"

"I'm - I'm all right," Nicole said hoarsely.

"What did he say?"

Her heart in her throat, she told him everything.

C
hapter  25

"The victims' name was Greg Sparks," Renfro said, in the conference room, that evening. "According to his record, he spent some time in prison for second degree murder and rape. He got out a year ago."

"Now we know why Judas targeted him," Marsh said.

"Speaking of the sick bastard," Parker said. "He sent a letter this morning. The reason I'm just now getting it is because someone misplaced it. Anyway, there's no point in reading it to you. It's short and to the point." He turned his head and looked at Galen and Nicole. "How did the interview with the witness go? Was she able to tell you anything that could lead to Judas' arrest?"

"No." Briefly, Galen filled everybody in on what Jess Summers had told him and Nicole.

"That poor woman is going to be haunted with the vision of Judas murdering Sparks for the rest of her life," Renfro muttered once Galen was finished. "She's going to need professional help."

"I gave her the name and number of a therapist." Nicole shifted slightly. "I thought I should mention that Judas called me earlier today." She told them about the conversation they had. "He said he would be in touch. I don't know if that means he'll write or call."

"I'll have a tracer installed on your phone," Parker told her. "If he calls again all you have to do is push the button to activate the trace."

"He's not stupid, boss," Lopez spoke up. "He's probably taken steps to insure that we can't track his location."

"You're probably right, but at this point I'm willing to try anything and everything." Parker glanced around at the team. "He tends to kill every three to five days. We have some time before he strikes again. I want you all to go home and get some sleep."

"You too, boss," Lopez said, standing. "You look like death warmed over."

Parker smiled weakly. "You're too kind. Go home, Lopez."

"Come on, Goodwin," Galen said as he rose to his feet. "Let's get out of here."

"Sounds good to me."
Wearily, Nicole stood and followed him out of the room.

Fifteen minutes later, Galen pulled into the driveway. He parked behind Nicole's car, turned off the engine, and removed his seatbelt. Shifting in his seat, he glanced at her. She had her head back, resting it against the headrest. Her face was turned toward him and her eyes were closed. He moved as close as he could, given that there was a console between them, and brushed his lips against her cheek. "Angel," he whispered.

"I'm awake." Nicole opened her eyes. "I was just resting my eyes. It's been a long day." She kissed him on the mouth, lingering for several seconds before breaking contact. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Let me walk you to the door," he said. "We can kiss under the porch light like teenagers."

She grinned. "My porch
light's
off."

"Then we'll kiss in the dark."

Nicole laughed softly. "I'll turn the light on."

They got out of the car and made their way up the driveway. As was his habit, Galen scanned his surroundings. From a corner of the yard, he spotted something moving. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and his heart started to pound in his chest. He opened his mouth to tell Nicole to stop when he heard the gunshot. Moving swiftly, he grabbed her and hit the ground. He rolled on top of her, covering her body like a shield.

"Galen!" she gasped.

"Don't move," he ordered her quietly. He raised his head and saw a figure slowly approaching. His hand went for his gun. Before he could fire off a shot, the figure was shooting again. Pain seared across his arm and he grunted. His adrenaline pumping through his veins he ignored the pain, raised himself up, and fired back. The figure fell to the ground, moaning and clutching at his leg.

Galen got to his feet quickly and moved toward the shooter. He saw the gun lying on the ground and kicked it away. "You're lucky I didn't shoot you in the head," he growled down at him, keeping his gun trained on him. "If you had shot my partner you would be a dead man."

Nicole staggered to her feet and took out her cell phone. She called 911, identified herself, and told the dispatcher she needed the police and an ambulance. After she gave dispatch her address she ended the call and went to stand beside Galen. She removed her handcuffs from her belt and moved behind the gunman. "Put your hands behind your back," she snarled. When he refused to cooperate she grabbed his wrists. He jerked an arm free and punched her in the mouth. Her lip split open and blood ran down her chin. Angry, she hit him upside the head. "Keep pushing your luck. I have a gun and right now it wouldn't take much for me to use it." She handcuffed him and read him his rights. Once she was done she moved back to Galen's side.

"Start talking," Galen said coldly.

"Go to hell," the man hissed.

"Wrong answer."
Without taking his eyes off the man, Galen said to his partner, "In my right pocket you'll find a handkerchief. Wipe your face, sweetheart."

Shyly, Nicole stuck her hand in his pants pocket and brought out a white handkerchief. She wiped her chin, wincing as the cloth met her lower lip. "Who are you?" she demanded to know of the gunman. "Why were you shooting at us?"

He smirked up at her. "What makes you think I was shooting at you?"

"So you were aiming for me," Galen said. "Why?"

"You're in the way."

"In the way of what?"

The man smirked wider. "Ask your pretty little partner. She knows."

Galen looked at Nicole and found she had gone deathly pale. "Are
you-
"

"My Father."
She swallowed hard. "He thinks you're the reason why I've turned against him. He said that ever since you came into the picture I've been disobedient. In his mind he feels that if you're gone he can control me again." She stared down at the gunman. "What did he promise you in exchange for killing my partner?"

"Make me a deal and I'll talk," he said coolly. "Where's that damn ambulance? I'm in pain."

"Good," Galen said. "No deals. If you refuse to talk I'll call and cancel that ambulance. We'll let you lay there and bleed to death. If you think I'm bluffing try me."

"I met Stuart Goodwin at a bar the other night," he said. "He was bitching about his daughter and how she never respects him. He said it was her partner's fault and that he was tired of the son of a bitch getting in his way. He asked me if I knew anyone who would take him - you out. I told him for a thousand dollars I would do it."

Nicole swore under her breath as she looked at Galen. "That bastard wanted a thousand dollars from me so he could pay some thug to kill you. I didn't give it to him so how did he get it?"

"Don't know," the shooter muttered. "Don't care. I got the money and-" The wailing of a siren broke into what he was going to say next.

Galen turned and saw a police car, followed by an ambulance, pull up in front of the house. Doors opened and Officer's and Paramedics rushed out. Galen holstered his weapon and ushered Nicole out of the way. While the Paramedics worked on the perpetrator Galen and Nicole spoke with an Officer. They told him everything that happened and everything the
perp
told them. Nicole even told him about her father and the conversation they had regarding money.

"I'll have Mr. Goodwin picked up," the Officer said.

"No bail," Galen said. "I want his ass to stay in jail this time."