Blood Ties Read online

  “I know, right? And I took you for some Indian food and to the arcades.”

  “Really? That’s original and fun, considering you’re thirty.”

  “Yes, I’m an entertainment seeking person on dates. A movie would have been too dull, and I would have spent the entire two hours wanting to make out with you instead of being interested in the movie itself or whatever you wanted to do.”

  “I guess you’re right. Anything else I should know about you?”

  “I prefer red wine over beer, I eat my beef rare, and I’m allergic to onions. Do you have any allergies?”

  “None whatsoever. I prefer diet Coke over red wine, I love sushi, and I hate all drugs.”

  “Very good. You should also know, I’m great in bed,” Jared said, and he winked at me.

  I rolled my eyes and laughed. “And you should know, I’m making you wait,” I replied, smiling broadly; he faked a sad face.

  “Fine…That’s very annoying, but I’ll respect it because I’m in it for the long run. How does that sound?”

  “Absolutely perfect!” I faked bewilderment.

  “Regarding security measures, I’ll move in. I’ll crash on the couch or wherever you want, no one needs to know, but I’m living here. My bags are in my car, I’ll bring them up in a little while.”

  “Okay. We’ll say we started sleeping together tonight, then. Damn it. I so wanted to be a tease!” I said, sarcasm clear in my voice.

  Jared shrugged and smiled mischievously. He took my now empty mug and his to the sink and placed them quietly there.

  “I’ll go and get my bags now. Are you done with the arrangement for the memorial or do you have to make more phone calls?”

  I considered for a moment and nodded. “I’ve got to get in touch with a few of her clients; Sandy, Susie’s assistant, was going to call most of them, but as I know some, I’ll phone them myself.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right back. If anyone rings the bell or a messenger delivers anything, leave it outside, understood?” Jared stated sternly.

  “Crystal clear,” I replied.

  I went to my bedroom and dialed numbers and spoke to people. Letting them know Susie was dead was no easy task; every time I said her name, memories sprang into my mind, and I had to fight back the urge to hung up and scream in pain.

  I was so wrapped up in my duties, I didn’t hear Jared return. He checked my apartment out and dropped his bag on the couch. Then he came to my room, knocked on the door, and entered. I finished the conversation I was having and hung up.

  “I’ll set up the living-room so that it’s good enough for you to sleep in.”

  “A blanket will be enough.”

  “And a teddy bear?”

  “Can’t fall asleep unless I’m hugging one tightly,” Jared said seriously, then cracked a smile.

  I grabbed blankets and a bedspread, a pillow and pillowcase, and Jared dutifully followed me to the living-room. We made the largest couch his bed, and in a matter of minutes everything was ready. I showed him around, detailing where I kept linens, towels, hygiene supplies, plates, cups, glasses, cooking paraphernalia, the food, and gave him an extra set of keys.

  “Is that Caleb?” Jared asked, looking at a portrait on my desk.

  I nodded and smiled sadly. I missed him.

  “Okay then, the basics are covered. Do you need to leave your house today?” Jared asked, and I shook my head.

  “I can have a courier bring the manuscript over and I can work on that. It’ll help me think of something other than Susie.”

  “Great. I’ll put in some phone calls to Aidan and our boss, and then I’ll hover over you.”

  “That sounds like fun,” I said dryly; I hated hovering.

  “I’ll just watch some TV or something. I’ve got some reports to fill in, so don’t worry. I’ll keep myself entertained.”

  “That sounds even better,” I said, pleased.

  I had a messenger deliver the manuscript, and Jared checked it twice before handing it over to me. He was very thorough and careful.

  We spent the rest of the day working. At around eight we had chicken with vegetables, and Jared praised me on my cooking. Of course, he was probably being polite, but he did have two servings.

  Instead of continuing with our work, we caught a movie on TV and then called it a night. I stirred in my bed for a while; as I’d slept unusual hours, I wasn’t sleepy. I put on my iPod and listened to a slow-songs playlist, and managed to doze off at around two am.

  3

  Images of Susie flashed before my eyes: playing hockey, eating a burger, throwing up at a party, drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve, attempting to play tennis on the beach, flirting with a guy at a bar, trying on dresses before going out dancing…

  I opened my eyes and removed my earphones; they weren’t too comfortable to fall asleep with on. I looked around, dazed. I hadn’t really rested, so after confirming that the sun hadn’t risen yet, I fell asleep again.

  I opened my eyes as light poured into my bedroom. I hadn’t pulled down the blackouts completely, so rays shone on the floor, bounced off against a chest of drawers, and simply lit the place up.

  I went to the bathroom, then to the kitchen.

  Jared was reading the newspaper, his hair was wet and he was having coffee and some cornflakes with milk.

  “Glad to see you found your way around,” I said, and he smiled a very pretty smile that made me tingly inside.

  “I hope you don’t mind. I waited but I got hungry and didn’t want to wake you up,” Jared replied apologetically, and he got up and poured me a mug of coffee.

  “No problem; thanks,” I said as I served some yogurt and cornflakes for myself.

  “Did you sleep alright?” Jared asked.

  “Not really…I couldn’t get Susie out of my mind. Memories just showed in my head. I woke up at around five. I managed to fall asleep again but I didn’t really rest.”

  “I understand. I’m sorry to hear that, but it’ll get better over time, Sam.”

  “I know, thanks Jared. I’ll have to deal with it, let time go by. Anyway,” I changed the subject, not wanting to get emotional so early, “what will you be doing today?”

  “Aidan will come over, we’ve got some things to go over from the case, and then, I’ll hang out.”

  “Okay. I’ve got to keep on making some corrections on the manuscript and then you can fill me in, once Aidan has left.”

  “Excuse me?” Jared asked, a smirk on his handsome face.

  “I want to know what’s going on, and Aidan is reluctant to tell me, or he only lets me in on the basics. But you, dearest, will fill me in on everything, without sparing any details, okay?” I half-asked, half-stated, trying to be both sweet and firm.

  Jared sniggered and nodded. He was much better than Aidan at being my accomplice. Although I was pretty sure he’d keep confidential information to himself if he thought I shouldn’t know it.

  We finished having breakfast and Aidan arrived. After acknowledging my existence, he went to the living-room with Jared and I went to the study and worked.

  At noon I cooked some meat with mashed potatoes and pumpkin, and the Davies brothers joined me for lunch. We ate quietly and Jared did his best to start conversations, but Aidan would answer with short sentences so Jared gave up. Aidan prepared a fruit salad and added some cream for dessert. After eating so much, I needed a nap.

  By the time I woke up, Aidan had left and Jared was asleep. I took a shower and tried working, but my thoughts drifted back to the case and to Susie, so I couldn’t concentrate on the manuscript.

  I sat behind my desk and stared aimlessly. I was unable to wrap my mind around the idea that someone had actually murdered Susie, someone she knew. I tried thinking about who it could have been, but there was no one with that much hatred and such low morals in Susie’s life, and mine, considering I’d also been targeted. If we were, in fact, being tracked down by the same person.

  Jared entered my stu
dy carrying two mugs of coffee. I thanked him as he handed one over to me and he sat down across the desk. He looked at me with sweet and comprehensive eyes, and I couldn’t stop my own from filling with tears.

  “I miss her,” I whispered as I closed my eyes and two tears ran down my cheeks. “I was closer to her than to my brother and sister. We finished each other’s sentences. Half the times we didn’t even need to tell each other what we were thinking, we just knew. And now she’s gone and…Susie’s gone.”

  Jared remained quiet as more tears left my eyes. After a few more minutes of weeping, I dried my face with the palm of my hand and breathed in. I exhaled and drank some coffee.

  “I want to get whoever did this to her,” I said clearly, looking at Jared with anger in my eyes.

  “We will, Sam. For starters, the autopsy is over and you’ll have Susan’s body for the memorial.”

  “She wanted to be cremated. I’ll make the proper arrangements so that she’s in an urn by tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’ll put you through with Samaire, who took care of the autopsy.”

  “Thanks. What else did Aidan tell you?”

  “Susan was suffocated and the tie that was used belonged to her. There was some epithelial tissue, but it didn’t match the DNA database for sex and criminal offenders; it’s someone without a record. Aidan spoke with Susan’s boyfriend over the phone, but he was so shocked, he didn’t say much. We need to check the DNA with him as well, to make sure it wasn’t him.”

  “I’ll speak with him tomorrow. You can be by my side or brief me on what questions to ask. He’ll talk to me.”

  “Great. I’ll need you to tell me about everyone who shows up tomorrow. You’re acquainted with most or all of them, and even if we can get alibis and statements, you’ll know best the nature of the relationship between Susan and them.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “The computer expert went through Susan’s laptop and found nothing out of the ordinary. Writs and transcripts from mediations, e-mails from and to clients, but not a single threat. Either she erased them or those mad at her realized it was both a waste of time and something stupid to do. Aidan spoke with Sandra, the assistant, but she seemed truly sad; plus she was at her father’s birthday on Saturday night.”

  “It couldn’t have been Sandy, she admired and respected Susie. Besides, if she was suffocated, wouldn’t it have to have been a really strong person?”

  “Not really. By placing pressure on certain parts of the neck, the trachea either shuts down or is broken and one dies. It had to be someone strong enough to keep her arms from her own neck or from the attacker, but by sitting with one’s legs on them or tying them down, it could have been managed by a woman or a thin man.”

  “Were there marks on her wrists?”

  “Yes, but they weren’t terribly marked. It could have been simple bondage from rough but consensual sex. Raymond didn’t say anything about their sexual relationship, but he’ll certainly be called in for questions. Do you know anything about Susan’s sex life?”

  “She mentioned handcuffs once or twice, but she wasn’t into S&M, orgies, or filming. Susie liked her privacy, and she hated violence.”

  “Okay. Would she ever have lied to you?”

  “Not about sex, Jared. If there was one thing we were completely open and unabashed about, it was that.”

  “Okay. Aidan had Susan’s finances checked and everything was fine; no debts, every bill and ticket was paid for, her credit cards were in order…”

  “Yes, Susie disliked the thought of owing money to anyone. She even paid for parking tickets the day after she received them.”

  “Yes, Aidan did a background check on her encounters with the Law but it was mostly parking tickets and a couple for speed, but nothing major.”

  “Susie respected the Law, that’s why she became a lawyer.”

  “As well as seeking revenge from adulterous males. She had an impeccable track record; won every case, or managed to get her goal in early mediations. She was fearless and feared by her opponents.”

  “Yes. I’m not really sure; I guess it’s got to do with her dad cheating on her mom and his leaving them…”

  “That could be a significant reason. Anyway, Susan seemed to have her life in order. She had a will, and an executioner has it and will get in touch with those mentioned in it.”

  “Great. Susie didn’t have any family left, so I’ve got no idea of what’s going to happen to all her stuff.”

  “Neither do I. Even if she was well off and had good properties under her name, I doubt the crime was committed for the inheritance; the murder was too passionate, too personal.”

  “Any other leads? Did Aidan question anyone else?”

  “Susan’s bosses, but both Annabel and Peter had alibis; plus, they have absolutely no reason to do it. They’re both rich, successful, and he’s gay.”

  “I always thought he was, but he’s very private about his personal life.”

  “Yes. He clearly stated he wanted his sexual preferences to remain confidential. I guess he’s afraid it’ll affect his work environment.”

  “I guess. There are still many prejudiced people out there. Anyone else questioned?”

  “A few of the people who live in Susan’s building, but none saw anything strange or heard anything out of the ordinary. No one was particularly close to her, they mostly acknowledged each other and went on with their lives.”

  “So what’s next?”

  “Tomorrow we’ll meet those closest to her, and start questionings among them. You’ll help us out. Then, if there are no leads, we’ll proceed to clients with whom you’re familiar, because if you were attacked, it means you know whoever killed Susan.”

  “Great. I’ve been going over who it could be, but I came up with zilch. I’ve got no idea of who’s behind the murder and the package.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Sam, we’ll figure it out before he or she does any further harm.”

  “I can only hope so,” I said as I stood up and opened the windows a bit; it was starting to feel stuffed in my apartment.

  “I’ll let you get back to your work now. If I learn anything else, I’ll let you know,” Jared said as he stood up, and even though I heard honesty in his voice, there was a hint of reluctance as well.

  He left the study and I managed to get some work done, and to go over details of Susie’s cremation. At seven we enjoyed pasta with tomato sauce. I cooked, as Jared seemed to lack the cuisine skills Aidan had. We chatted as we ate, but managed to avoid Susie, which, awful as it may sound, was a relief for me.

  After dinner we saw a movie and then went to sleep. I dozed off and had no dreams, no images flashed before my eyes, and I was glad.

  On Wednesday I got up at eight, took a shower, had some breakfast with Jared, and got ready for Susie’s memorial.

  I chose a black long-sleeved dress that fell straight down to my knees and black stilettos. Even on high heels, Jared was half a foot taller than me. He wore a black suit and a white shirt with a dark tie; he didn’t share Aidan’s taste in clothes, apparently.

  Jared drove my car to the gallery; we arrived at quarter to ten and he helped me rearrange pictures and vases with flowers. I placed the urn on a table next to the photograph I had had printed out.

  At eleven people started arriving. Mostly women dressed magnificently, who knew each other from the high class and jet set worlds. They smiled at me when they saw me. Even if some had gotten to know Susie on a more personal level, I’m pretty sure most were thankful for the millions she’d gotten them.

  Jared placed his arm protectively around me and I leaned back against him. If I didn’t know we were fake, I’d believe we were a couple. There was an intimate trust between us, and he appeared genuine as he comforted me with light touches and small gestures. For a while I forgot we were a lie.

  I whispered into Jared’s ear the names and relationships the women shared with Susan, and he listened silently.

&
nbsp; Raymond arrived and came to say hi to me. He was as tall as Aidan, although not as buff, and with a fairer complexion. He had blue eyes and blond hair. He was handsome, although he wasn’t my taste. He looked broken; he nodded at Jared and then stood in front of Susie’s picture, gazing at it. Jared whispered that I should go talk to Ray, to get information. I thought it was tacky and disrespectful to do it right then and there, but Jared was the detective and he knew more than I did.

  “Ray,” I said softly as I placed my hand on his shoulder; he turned around and looked at me with sad eyes.

  “I can’t believe she’s gone, Sam.”

  “I know, it’s awful.”

  “And I had so many plans for us,” he said wistful. “I just don’t get it.”

  “What sort of plans?”

  “I’d suggested we move in together, and Suze had said she’d think about it, but I’m sure she wanted to. There’s no way she would have refused,” a small smile formed on his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I’m sure she’d have agreed, Ray. Did you have any more plans for the two of you?”

  “I’d actually gone ring shopping,” Ray said after a brief pause. “I was going to ask Suze to marry me, but she’s dead now, murdered. It simply makes no sense at all, Sam. Who could have killed her?”

  “I’ve got no idea, Ray. Her clients loved her, the opponents loathed but respected her…On Saturday night, didn’t she mention anything unusual to you?” I probed with as much subtlety as I could muster.

  “I spoke with Suze in the afternoon, a short while before she met you for dinner. She said you two would be out until late, so I stayed at my place. We were supposed to meet for lunch, but she never showed up. I assumed she was hung-over. A detective, Davies, I think, called me in the evening, at around ten. We spoke briefly but he mentioned you’d already recognized the body, so it was useless for me to go down to the station; I became numb and couldn’t talk to the detective.”

  Ray’s words sunk in my mind and I stopped myself from asking him if he was sure he wasn’t supposed to meet Susie that Saturday night.

  “So you just crashed?” I asked.