JAX: MC Biker Romance (New Adult Contemporary Bad Boy Romance) (43 page)

“Hello?” her voice was groggy and angry.

“Is that Samantha Richards?” a serious man’s voice wasted no time with polite introductions.

“It is,” she hesitated for a second. “Who is this?”

“This is Detective Cooper NYPD. Are you Anthony Richards’ sister?”

*****

The tears were dripping from Samantha’s cheeks and landing in the palm of her upturned hands. A tissue, which she’d torn to shreds, was tangled between her fingers and she pulled it apart and watched the little white pieces fall to the ground.

Across the desk, Detective Cooper was looking at her, taking note of every little move she made. For a second, he noticed how pretty she was, but he reeled his thoughts in fast. This was a time to be professional, not chat up beautiful women. Although she did have that special shade of hazel in her eyes, the one that was so rare and Cooper loved so much, he shook his head to bring himself back to reality.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Miss Richards. It must have come as such a terrible shock to you.”

“Not really,” she sniffed. “I always guessed something like this would happen.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Anthony was always in trouble. Ever since I can remember, he was always going against the grain and doing everything he knew he shouldn’t. You know, when he was eight years old, he used to steal neighborhood kids’ bikes and sell them,” she smiled at the memory. “He was real enterprising though, gotta give him that.”

“It sounds like he was a real character.”

“Yeah, that’s one way of putting it.”

Cooper offered Samantha another tissue, which she gladly took before also ripping it to pieces. Her eyes were red and raw, as she dabbed at them, but Cooper still thought she looked like a sweet girl. It was then that she noticed the clock on the wall behind the detective and stood up.

“I start work in forty five minutes!” She reached for her coat and bag.

“No please, I don’t think you should go in today. Take it easy. I can call in for you,”

Cooper walked around his desk to comfort her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he urged her to sit back down and relax.

“Don’t worry. Just stay here. You don’t have to go anywhere.”

Samantha nodded with her mind numb and her body still in shock. Meanwhile, Brooke got up from his desk and proceeded to get her some coffee, nodding to his partner, as he hurried down the hall.

“Now, if you let me know where you work, I’ll go and give them a call. My partner will be right with you in just a second.” Cooper tried to sound as understanding as possible.

After she handed over the number, she slumped back in her chair with the grief washing over her in waves. Her body sagged in misery, as she wiped at her face and she shivered as exhaustion took hold of her. It wasn’t long until Brooke returned with a steaming cup which she took gratefully, holding the warmth between her hands and letting the steam cleanse her face. She took a tentative sip of her coffee and when she looked up next, she saw the two detectives on either side of the desk with their eyes bearing down on her. For the first time since she arrived, she felt as though she was about to be questioned and she looked up to Cooper with her wide eyes, mentally pleading that he’d let her go home to cry.

“I’m afraid I have to ask you some questions now that we’ve had some time to get acquainted,” he began.

Samantha slumped and resigned herself to having to talk about Anthony and all the terrible things he’d one.

“That’s ok,” she sighed. “Better get it out the way.”

“I’ll try to be as quick as I can. Firstly, can you tell me when was the last time you saw your brother?”

“Almost a year ago,” she remembered sadly. “We were at a family barbeque and, well…it didn’t go so well.”

“Oh yeah?”

“He turned up drunk and high as always, and it wasn’t long until a fight broke out between him and my Dad.”

“Your Dad?”

“Yeah,” she saw the suspicious look in Cooper’s eyes. “Why?”

“It’s just that people usually have their spouse or parents as their next of kin. It’s rarely a sibling.”

“My parents and him…. It’s complicated,” she explained. “For a long time, I was all he had. But, we had a close bond you know? Even growing up, I was always on his side when no one else was. As adults, I was always lending him money, letting him crash at my place. I did everything for Anthony… I really did!” Her sobbing overcame her once again.

“So, what happened? How come you hadn’t seen him in so long?”

Samantha took a moment to regain her breath. Nibbling on a broken nail, she tried to steady herself before continuing.

“That was his choice, not mine. Well, kinda… After the fight at the barbeque, he disappeared for two days. I was worried out of my mind, we all were. So, when I got an e mail from him, I assumed it was because he wanted to say sorry, but instead, he said he wanted nothing to do with any of us. Said my parents were abusive to him as a kid and that’s why he was so messed up. Then, he said I sided with them.”

“Did you?”

“What?”

“Side with your parents?”

“Weren’t you listening? I was always sticking up for Anthony? Always trying to do my best for him, but in his crazy, drug fueled, paranoid state, he was scared and angry of everyone. He pushed us all away, despite how much we loved him.”

The detectives remained quiet for a moment to give her peace to grieve. Cooper hated this part of the job. He couldn’t cope with the idea that his words could tear a family apart. Nevertheless, it was something he had become used to and he’d lost count over the years of how many people he’d had to call with bad news.

It was then that his mind went into overdrive, as it scanned the faces of every person he’d ever met on the job. There were too many to remember, but distinct faces always stood out, and it was always the worst that stuck in his memory. His thoughts drifted to a serial killer who had preyed on teenage boys when he was a rookie. He was one of the unlucky cops who witnessed one of the crime scenes. To this day, he could still smell it.

“Detective? Hello?”

It was then he realized he hadn’t noticed Samantha talking.

“Sorry, what was that?”

“I said I can’t believe Anthony put me down as his next of kin. Kinda makes me feel a bit….. not happy, but glad he was thinking about me.”

Cooper gave her a weak smile.

“I’m pretty sure he would have never forgotten about you.”

*****

Two days had passed since Anthony had died, and Samantha hadn’t left her apartment once. She knew it was unhealthy and that she’d have to go back to work eventually, but right now, she just wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep forever.

The grief never left her, it only got stronger. There were times when she could barely lift her head from the pillow because she ached from crying, other times, she was lucid enough to head into the kitchen for a sandwich. Mostly, she just stared at the ceiling with a thousand thoughts clouding her mind. They were memories of Anthony as a child, and she still couldn’t believe that such a funny little boy could end up murdered in such a savage way. It seemed so unfair. There were things she still wanted to say to him and days she wanted to spend in his company.

As she felt the tears well up once again, she tried to stifle them, but it was no use. They heaved out of her as though her chest was opening up into a wound. It was then that the phone rang for the tenth time that morning.

“Hello? This is Samantha Richards.”

“It’s Julie. Why are you being so formal?”

“Sorry, it’s just that I’ve had the police and funeral directors on the phone the last few hours. I didn’t realize it was you.”

“I’m so worried about you, Sammy. Please, won’t you let me come over and take care of you?”

“Yeah soon,” Samantha said in a rather unconvincing tone. “I mean maybe later.”

“You need to let people in. It’s not good for you to just hold yourself up in that apartment. At least, tell me you’re out of bed.”

Samantha was silent.

“Well, can you please tell me you’ve eaten something?” Julie was beginning to sound desperate.

“I have.”

“Thank God.”

Cooper and Brooke were sat at their desks with paperwork spread in front of them. Neither of them looked pleased to be designated such a mundane task and they were hurrying through it as fast as possible.

“This is bullshit.” Cooper flung his pen across the desk and crossed his arms.

Brooke looked up startled.

“Why are we stuck in here doing paperwork when we should be out there finding a murderer,” he continued.

“Story of my life,” Brooke pinched the bridge of his nose, as he scribbled.

When he looked up, he saw his partner staring out the window with a glazed expression on his face.

“You look lost again,” he muttered.

“Eh?” Cooper looked back to his partner.

“I said you look lost in thought again. Half the time, it’s like you’re not even here.”

“Well, I wish I wasn’t,” Cooper huffed.

“I bet you’re thinking about that junkie’s sister.”

Brooke immediately regretted speaking and shrunk back in his chair, hoping his partner hadn’t heard.

“What did you say?” Cooper asked through a clenched jaw.

“Nothin.”

But, he knew his partner was right. He had been thinking about Samantha. Something about her stuck in his mind. He couldn’t decide whether it was her striking good looks or her delicate mannerisms. Everything about her was petite and sweet, and he had the strongest compulsion to protect her. Since she’d been in the station, he’d had thoughts about holding her and telling her things would be ok. He wanted to see those hazel eyes of hers again, but more than anything, he wanted to take the pain away and see her smile. As he looked out the window again, he made a silent vow to himself to catch her brother’s killer at all costs.

“I need to get outta here,” he jumped from his seat, leaving it swiveling on its own. “Need to get some air.”

“Sure,” Brooke didn’t look up from his work.

As he stepped out the back of the fire escape, he looked down the metal steps, as they descended onto the street. The wind was beginning to pick up and swipe at his wispy hair. He ran a hand over his head in a futile attempt at keeping himself groomed, and then resigned himself to the blustery breeze.

He shivered and wrapped his jacket around him, his eyes still fixed on the metal slats of the fire escape. Below him on the ground, a scene was unfolding. Two homeless men were swapping worn out shopping bags, as well as insults. Cooper wondered what the heck they were doing. Other cops might have seen it as their duty to go down and investigate, but right now, he had other things on his mind.
Let the hobos live in peace
he thought, as he headed back inside.

*****

Samantha was still struggling. It somehow seemed that the nights were becoming longer and the days were merging into each other. She didn’t know how much time she’d spent locked away in her apartment, but she guessed it was nearly a week.

Every morning like clockwork, she had been calling detective Cooper for an update on the case, but he always had the same news. They were working on leads, but still didn’t have a suspect in custody. At times, she wondered if it even mattered. No amount of justice could bring her brother back. At other times, she would be full of rage and want to see Anthony’s killer fry in the electric chair.

But, on this cold and gray afternoon, she just wanted to be calm and at peace. Luckily for her, Julie had insisted on visiting with a casserole dish filled with chili and a tub of ice cream.

“I know you said you were eating, but… I thought you could do with the company as well.”

“Thanks,” Samantha had slumped into her best friend’s arms. “It’s been so awful, just absolutely awful.”

“I couldn’t even imagine what it’s like for you,” and tears came to Julie’s eyes.

She tried to stifle them, but they fell onto her blouse regardless. Brushing them away, she looked around the apartment and decided what household chores to tackle first.

“When was the last time you opened the windows and let some air in?” she flung back the curtains, as she tried to change the subject. “And, what about the laundry, you need your sheets changed? And, it looks like your kitchen needs cleaning. I’ll start on the jobs, and then”

“Stop Jules. It’s ok.” Samantha grabbed hold of her arms. “Can’t we just…. You know, sit for a while?”

“I’m so sorry, Sammy.” Julie sat on the arm of the couch with her tears making little patting sounds on the floorboard. “It’s just such a shock… I remember Anthony so well, still think of him as a kid though. Remember when we used to ride our bikes into the woods and pretend we were chasing bigfoot?”

Samantha started to giggle at the childhood memory.

“How could I forget? We stumbled across that homeless man who was camped out there and he scared the heck outta us,” she burst out laughing. “Yeah…. us three used to get in all sorts of trouble.”