Chapter Four: Important Men

DALLAS, TEXAS

Dallas Police Department

January 8, 9:06 a.m.

Skip Bobby Evea was a tall, Jewish lawyer from Boston. He inclined all descriptions of himself as so. He didn’t think anything else was important. He had a boring childhood, father problems, straight A’s, blah, blah, blah.

   Skip wasn’t huge on optimism. What in his life would be optimistic in the least? Everything left him. Hell, not only did his mother leave him for Dallas, so did his girlfriend, and neither ended on good terms. His mother, well, she had recently had a run-in with a coma due to a stroke. Stuff happens. His girlfriend, actually, his fiancée, decided their time spent together was dwindling and took a promotion in a place completely unfamiliar.

   Optimism and Skip didn’t work. Just look at his name.

   So he killed two birds with one stone. Go to Dallas, pull his mother’s plug, and reconnect with ex-fiancée. Perfect.

 

Skip walked into the precinct slowly. He glanced around. Fairly bland colors and a cold breeze were all too recognizable. Jesus, every single precinct was the same. Ha, he thought. Religious jokes always got him. It was like Halle and puns… Halle- that’s what he was here for. He glanced around again. Two men leaned against a desk talking and sipping on coffee. Skip approached them. He spoke to the salt and pepper-haired one. “Hey, is Halle here?”

   The man eyed him critically. “You’re a Jew.”

   Skip frowned. “Um… I… I’m at a loss for words.”

   “Nah, it’s not a big deal, I’m a Jew, too!” He grinned and held out his hand. “John Posh is my name- are you okay?” He turned to his friend. “Gil, these people need to get with the program, huh?” He laughed with his friend and looked at Skip again. “I’m the only Jew here. It’s nice to see my own kind.”

   “Is Halle here?” Skip asked again, crossing his arms from discomfort.

   John nodded. “She’s coming in right now.”

   Skip turned and saw exactly who he was looking for. There was Halle in her white shirt, yellow cardigan, blue jeans, yellow rain boots, a little cloud-shaped hairpin… she was predictable. She always had been. The look of surprise on her face was priceless, though. Or was it anger?

   “What the hell are you doing here?” She whispered wistfully. She shook her head. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

   “Halle, I went through seven million other police departments to find you, the least you can do is be nice to me.” Skip offered a grin. He walked up to her, but Halle shook her head vehemently. He cocked his head. “What’s wrong with you?”

   “What’s wrong with me?!” She shouted hysterically. Halle laughed, tears forming in her eyes. She shook her head again. “No. No. You don’t ever come here. NEVER, Skip. Shall I spell it out for you?” She spoke no more, and neither did anyone else in the room. All that mattered were the daggers Halle was piercing into Skip’s chest.

   Skip scratched his forehead. He sucked in a sharp breath and just stared at the floor. “Halle, do we have to do this here?”

   “You’re the one who decided that, man. You decided that the moment you got here!” Skip could almost see the fumes steaming from her head. “We’re done. We are over.” She laughed harshly again. “I expect you to be gone when I come back, okay?” She turned on her heel and stormed out of the precinct, Skip following after.

   “Halle.” He said, catching up. He walked beside her brisk stride. “Halle, why are you acting like this?”

   “When we split I promised myself this would never happen. We can’t.”

   “Why?” Skip moaned. “What is wrong with this?!”

   Halle shoved him against the wall and looked up into his eyes. “You dick. You selfish dick… what makes you think this is a good thing to do? What makes you so high?”

   Skip shrugged. “Maybe because I’m 6’1?”

   Halle almost chuckled. She put her hand on her face and rubbed her eyebrow. “How can you find a joke to say when I’m reaming you?”

   Skip smiled, taking her hand and entwining their fingers together. “We ended bad, Halle, I know. Don’t make me the bad guy, though. It was mutual.”

   “Now you’re making me feel bad.” Halle placed her head on his chest. “You suck.”

   Skip snorted. “I suck? What do you mean by that?”

   “I can’t be mad at you for more than a minute, dick.”

   “B***h,” He replied teasingly. Skip played with the tip of a clump of her hair. “Do you curl it?”

   Halle smirked. “No, it just up and started getting wavier and wavier.” She looked up. “You’re so random.”

   “It took this long for you to notice?” Skip heaved a sigh. “My mom is in a coma.”

   Halle gasped, pushing away from his chest to look into his eyes. “Nice time to shove that in! What happened to Candace?”

   Skip explained about the stroke. She had simply been walking home from work and fell. It was quick. It was seemingly painless, or, that was what his aunt had told him. Otherwise, he knew nothing.

   “I’m so sorry-” Halle began.

   “Ballistics came in!” Ed yelled from the main room. “You’re definitely going to want to hear this!”

   Halle grabbed Skip’s wrist, dragging him back. She smiled at Ed. “What?”

   Ed glared at Skip for a few seconds. He broke the awkward silence, though, saying, “The gun used to kill Rita Valor was a Luger P08. It was most popular back in the world wars. This particular gun, though, was really old. It was definitely made in 1900.”

   “How could you know all of that from a bullet?” Halle inquired.

   “We don’t.” said Michael Weathers from Ballistics. He walked inside, sitting at a desk, turning his chair to face them. “No engravings except for a V on the barrel.” He held up a bag, a gun sitting quaintly inside.

   “Valor,” Halle answered. She glanced at Ed. “The Valors owned this gun?”

   “That’s what I thought, but I was looking through the backgrounds of these people and something doesn’t add up. When Rita left, they didn’t file a report on her because she was illegally adopted. That’s what’s fine. The problem is that they never reported a gun missing, and never registered one, either.”

   Halle frowned.

   “The gun wasn’t put in their will. When they died, everything was auctioned for their church and their community center. A gun never touched the auction. I’m guessing it was a random hit.” Ed smirked.

   Skip shook his head. “You’re wrong. This isn’t a random murder. This gun was connected to Margaret Valor. Someone who knew the Valors took that gun. Rita must have pissed them off. They may have been the ones to burn her in the past.”

   “And who’s the smart guy?” Michael asked, standing.

   Skip blushed. “Ah, I’m just a defense lawyer. I know criminals.”

   “I know them, too.” Ed barked, thundering out of the room. Halle could swear she saw fumes coming from his head.

   Michael cocked his head. “We’re still not sure that the V stands for Valor. For all we know, the Valors stole the P08 and the original owner took it back. There are too many combinations to tell right now. Sorry, but it’s all I got. And by the way, it was dusted for prints. Nothing came back except for a partial. Your guy is not in the system.” He waved and left.

   Halle bit her lip. “What got him so mad?”

   Skip closed his mouth shut. Ed wanted to be the best. Now that Skip was here, Ed was losing the competition. He silently wondered if Halle was just oblivious to his crush on her. Skip tapped her shoulder. “I’m going to go see my mother. Call me when you get off. I can make something for dinner.” He left the precinct with a struggle, walking straight into Michael. He pushed past him and back into the main room. “Halle, Valor is from the Italian name Valerio.”

   Halle turned, nodding. “Um, sure, I guess so. Why is that important?”

   “The guns were primarily popular with the Germans in the wars. Italy was an ally of the Germans, as you know. Valor is a German surname. I am almost positive that this gun is the Valors.” He blinked blue eyes. “Who was that guy who made the theory?”

   “That was Skip,” She answered, hugging Michael. “I missed you! How’s Cooper?”

   “He’s okay. He got a terrible stomach virus. I think he’s the one who infected you before you left for leave.”

   Halle shrugged. “It happens. It wasn’t too bad after all.” She pursed her lips. “Have you two moved in yet?”

   Michael shook his head. “I wish. He’s still a little angry about me lying about my dog.”

   Halle rolled her eyes. “He’ll get over it.” She folded her arms.

   Michael nodded. “I sure as hell hope so. Anyways, I need to go. Rape-homicide and they need me for the shells. We should talk more, Halle.” He kissed her on the cheek, leaving.

   A breeze rolled in and Halle turned to get a jacket, seeing Gil and John leaning against their desks. “So, you’re a s**t now?” Gil smirked.

   Halle said in a monotonous tone, “Gil, shut up.”

   John nodded. “Halle is the furthest from Michael’s interests, anyway. Cooper, remember?”

   Gil laughed. “But what about poor Eddy, huh, Halle?”

   Halle shot an angry glare at Gil. “Gil, shut up,” she growled again. “Ed is my partner. Nothing more, okay? I don’t get this idiotic pairing we have had since I’ve been here, but last time I checked, women and men can be friends without sexual relations. And it’s none of your goddamn business!”

   Crude laughter filled her ears. “Sure, rookie, we can believe you.” Gil rolled his eyes, digging

in his shirt pocket for his box of cigarettes. “I’m going for a smoke. While I’m there, decipher your priorities.” He brushed past her and out of the precinct.

   John walked over to Halle. “Gil may be a prick, but you know he’s right. It’s wrong pulling Ed this way and that. You know it. I get it, though. You sure as hell don’t owe Ed anything, but you aren’t making the right choices. Hell, I don’t make your life. You pave your own road. Just make sure you cover the potholes or get a lot of spares, Halle.” He shrugged. “Or use better metaphors than I do.” He grinned happily and walked off.

   “Why can’t you people just leave me alone?!” Halle growled to herself, stomping to her desk. She pulled open a large oak drawer on the bottom, scanning the labels for Valor. She withdrew the file folder and rested it on her desk. She finally shoved her arms through her jacket and ran the zipper up. Jesus¸ she thought. It’s freezing in here. She tried to relax a bit, sinking into her suddenly painful chair. Flipping open the manila folder, she sighed, looking over Shiva’s original witness report. No one had a grudge against Rita, but she had had a boyfriend in the past. Hm. That could be a lead. Halle slipped a pen out of a cup on the edge of her desk, underlining the boyfriend’s name. Casper Prince. It seemed like something from a movie. Halle stifled a snort, skimming the rest of her report. Shiva was absolutely unhelpful. All she talked about was church, church, church, Jesus, God, church, worship, blah, blah, blah, I’m so sad, can I go now. Linda was even worse. She was worthless. Basic dead end. Halle stood, looking back down at Casper Prince’s underlined name. She found and wrote an address and began her search through the precinct for Ed.

DALLAS, TEXAS

Dallas Police Department Parking Lot

January 8, 9:38 a.m.

It was even colder outside than it was in the precinct. Halle advanced toward Ed’s Impala, catching sight of him in the driver’s seat. He had a cigarette in his hand- well… Halle would disregard the actual fact that it wasn’t tobacco at all.

   Halle tapped on his window. His eyes swiveled slowly to look at her. He turned his head, pressing the blunt into his ashtray and rolling down his window. “Hey.”

   Halle crossed her arms. “You’ve got some nerve doing that in the parking lot,” She advised. “I think you should at least save that for home.”

   “It helps with my asthma-” He then broke out into a coughing fit. “Okay, fine.” He sucked on his inhaler. “I needed to chill out.”

   “I’m all for legalization, but Ed, this is basically the stupidest thing you’ve done since I’ve met you.” Halle placed her elbows on the door. “We should go speak with the ex-boyfriend.”

   “Rita’s a lesbian,” Ed replied, fanning the smoke out of his car. “Why would she have a boyfriend?”

   Halle shrugged. “That’s why we should go find out. Maybe he’s a homophobe. Maybe when he found out she rooted for the other team he thought she should pay for her sins or whatever the hell you religious people think.”

   Ed chuckled, “You religious people… Trust me, I’m the furthest from some bigot Jesus-thumper. I totally am cool with gays and stuff. Don’t brush me off on the back burner.” He coughed again. “Get in shotgun. Do you have his add?”

   “No, but I know where he works.” She walked around the front of the car, climbing in the passenger seat. She tried not to inhale. “You’re going to give me contact-high, you d****e.”

   “Oh, thanks for the compliment.” He turned the key in the ignition.

 

BEDFORD, TEXAS

Mouser Automotive & Electrical

January 8, 10:26 a.m.

Someone grunted beneath a lifted car. They rolled out from under it, looking at their work. Well, hopefully it would work. Casper had been working on this Taurus for days. Finally, he had figured out what he was doing wrong. He paced around the vehicle, wiping his greasy hands on his jumpsuit. He stepped out of the garage, walking to his own car and kneeling by the tire. The damn air was out again. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Great, he realized. Blonde with oil is so trendy this year. He rolled his eyes, but shrugged. He was a mechanic. He got dirty sometimes. That wasn’t any big deal.

   Casper glanced up at a dark Impala as it rolled to a stop at the curb. He smirked. It was a nice one. He walked over to the car, seeing a couple get out. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

   The tall man shook his head. He held up a badge. “I’m Edwin Signe-Diara, and this is my partner Halle Hardy. I was hoping we could speak to you.”

   Casper nodded. “About Maggie,” He muttered, walking back to the garage. “We haven’t spoken since Thanksgiving.” He sighed sadly in mourn. “I doubt I can be too much help to you.”

   The girl, Halle, frowned. “No, no,” She followed her partner and Casper into the garage. “We just wanted any information about Margaret. We have to rule her friends out as suspects. You understand, right?”

   Casper closed his eyes, thinking of his old girlfriend. “We dated for a few months. When she finally came out I told her that I wasn’t the answer. I may look like a boy, but that won’t turn her straight. I told her she needed to find a real girl. We were still friends, but barely. I think I may have hurt her feelings.”

   Ed inquired, confused, “Look like a boy? What do you mean?”

   Casper realized his mistake. “I’m sorry, you probably didn’t know.” He opened his eyes. “Silly me. I’m still going through operations. I wasn’t born this way…” He clued. Edwin and Halle still looked perplexed. “I was born as Wendy.”

   They understood immediately. “Oh, gotcha.” Ed looked away, embarrassed.

   “Don’t be hard on yourself. No one knows because it’s usually none of their business. I’m a guy at heart, now the doctors are working on every other little kink and problem I have. Soon I’d have been Casper all along.”

   Halle folded her arms. “Where were you on the first of January?”

   Casper thought for a moment. “Houston. I was at a big party for my girlfriend. She won this New Year’s pageant. You can probably check in with her, I have her number.” He walked inside the store, going for a piece of paper.

   “Now I feel like an idiot,” Ed said, leaning on the wall. “Do you think she- he killed her?”

   Halle shrugged. “No clue. If the alibi checks out, I doubt he did.” Halle looked around the garage, frowning at the counter. There sat a pack of cigarettes. She nudged Ed with her shoulder. “He smokes. Do you think he would have guts to withstand burning an ex-girlfriend?”

   Contemplating, he whispered back, “Halle, Margaret had been burned in her past. It’s possible she broke with him because he burned her in the relationship. Maybe he wanted to get the feeling back. If the alibi works, I still wouldn’t trust it. He could be threatening his new girlfriend to lie for him.”

   Casper walked back in, handing over a little yellow note. “She’s Stella.” He licked his lips. “Is that everything?”

   Halle mulled over whether or not to ask about the pack. “Um, do you smoke?”

   Casper looked down, ashamed. “I’m trying to quit, but goddamn, I procrastinate terribly. I’ve smoked since I was practically a kid.” He glanced back up. “I need to make some calls, if you don’t mind- and hey, if you ever need a touch up on the Impala, I’m here. She’s really a beauty.”

   With a laugh and a smile, Ed added, “I just love her. Great roar when you start her up.”

   “I’m pretty sure it’s not a she. Last time I checked, it’s a car.” Halle said, confused when the others started laughing. Halle rolled her eyes and got back into the car.

   Ed grinned. “Well, I think we finished up all of our questions with you. Thank you, Casper.”

   Casper nodded. “Any time,” he said. Then, he looked around, seeing no one, and leaned close to Ed. “You may want to check in with Shiva.”

   “Shadan? Why- do you think she did this?”

   Casper shook his head. “Without a shadow of a doubt, I know she’s incapable of this kind of thing, but she socializes with some bad people. Her friends outside of college are a little shady. I didn’t trust her when I dated Maggie and I don’t trust her now. If I were you, I’d do thorough looks in on her. She’s one of the richest girls here. She could get anything to happen if she showed a bill.”

   An odd thought went through Ed. He thought for a moment that he should buy into what Casper had said. It wasn’t a far off assumption that Shiva had a thing to do with this. She was moving at a moment’s notice. Was this why? Ed gestured a goodbye and stuffed his hands in his rough jean pockets, worrying. Was a little rich girl really able to get angry enough at her friend to buy a weekend of torture for her?

   Ed let in a burst of cool air as he pulled open the car door absentmindedly. He sat down inside and closed the door slowly. “Halle, have you ever been mad enough to kill?”

   Pondering the question, she shrugged. “I guess so. Skip pisses me off all the time- or, he used to.” She turned, looking Ed up and down. “What’s the matter with you?”

   Ed shook his head. “Nothing really, I’m just thinking.”