CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Haddie climbed in the passenger side of Liz’s Avenger. On the floor between her legs, she put the plastic bag containing her jacket. The car smelled of overly-sweet, artificial lavender from the air freshener. Liz slammed the door closed and ran with her black umbrella bouncing over already wet, brown hair. The storm pounded a gray wall around them. Haddie blinked as lightning lit the corner of one of the buildings.

Liz scrambled in, trying to shake off and close the umbrella in the rain. She and Haddie both were sufficiently soaked from trying to get into the car. The umbrella got tossed into the back seat before the door closed.

“Monsoon,” Liz said. She shoved her purse beside her against the door.

“Thanks again.” Haddie reached for the seatbelt over her shoulder with a wince.

Liz buckled in and noticed Haddie trying to snap the buckle under her bandaged arm. The nurses had taped a plastic bag over the bandages until she got home.

“Here. I got it.” Liz clicked the buckle in and looked up. “Damn, Haddie. What’s going on? A mugging? Seems messed up.”

“It is.” Haddie tried not to let everything crash down on her: job, Dad, Detective Cooper. Rain pounded the roof and windows of the car.

“Is it coincidence? That you were out there — supposed to meet with some mysterious informant, and then bam, these muggers show up?” Liz still hadn’t started the car.

Haddie wanted to go home, snuggle Rock, and listen to Jisoo complain that she wasn’t getting enough food. “Detective Cooper is looking into it. I was able to identify their mugshots.”

“You’d said. It doesn’t sound like you think he’ll follow up on it.” She pulled out a pair of sunglasses from her tray, looked at them, and put them back. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know if I can trust Detective Cooper. Is it possible he’s dirty?” Haddie turned from the storm, and searched Liz’s face.

“Detective Cooper? I’ve never heard anything, well — about any of the detectives — nothing that would lead me to believe —. Two patrolmen were brought up by internal last year, but that had to do with some missing property. I never know, but nothing that comes to us would make me think —. We’re sort of kept to the side in the department.” She frowned. “What makes you question him? Are you sure it isn’t just your attorney kind of thing when you have a client at risk? Attorneys often accuse the investigators that they’re not looking hard enough for evidence that suits their case. Once the DA gets involved, it’s sort of out of their hands. Unless we come up with something forensic.”

Haddie nodded, too tired to really dig in. Besides, Andrea had told her to drop it. “Probably just that.”

Liz smiled. “Do we need to pick up anything on the way to your apartment?” She dug into the purse and keys jingled. “Medication? Do you have a prescription? Food?”

“Nope. Home. Bed.”

“I can’t believe this.” Liz fired up the Avenger, and the headlights emphasized the deluge outside. “I’ll see what Detective Cooper files tomorrow.”

Traffic moved slowly along the roads. In some places only the red lights of the cars ahead gave any indication of where the street ended or began.

Haddie wouldn’t have to worry about work tomorrow. Andrea had seen to that. Would Haddie get dropped off the case permanently now? She’d failed. Part of her wanted to believe that the mugging might get them a lead, but it didn’t seem likely at the moment. I’m just pouting. She never would have imagined getting pulled from the case. Admonished for not focusing on her work, yes, but not excluded. It left a hollow, empty feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Dad hadn’t returned to the hospital. He never answered her text when she told him she had a ride with Liz. Still, she expected he would have shown up anyway. Be Dad and all. Or at least text. She should be happy she could avoid the uncomfortable questions looming between them, but it hadn’t been bad at the hospital. In fact, she’d appreciated him being there with Detective Cooper.

“Should you be going home?” asked Liz.

“What do you mean?” Haddie tried to check the streets, to make sure they still headed toward her apartment. She hadn’t been paying attention but recognized an auto shop.

Liz pursed her lips before speaking. “I mean. If — if this was an attempt to make you stop investigating, then how do you know they’ll stop? What if they’re waiting for you to go home?”

“I’ve got Rock. Besides, if you think Detective Cooper is straight, won’t he be looking for my assailants — won’t they be hiding?”

“I suppose.” Liz rocked her head from side to side as if arguing with herself. “Still, I could give you my bed. I could sleep on the couch, at least for a night.”

Haddie sighed. She just needed her bed. The meds had her head fuzzy and she wanted her pillows. “I’m going to be fine. I’ll call you first thing when I get up tomorrow.”

She had a growing list of people to contact in the morning. Detective Cooper had disappeared along with Dad, but left her a message that he expected to follow up in the morning. Did that mean he actually would check into those thugs?

I shouldn’t complain. She’d be in her bed in a few minutes — sleeping, while who knew what Mel went through. The sad little blonde likely would have been processed into the population. That couldn’t be good. I need to stop whining.

Liz pulled up to the apartment building, stealing someone’s spot under the overhang. Some parking places were empty, but others might be left open by neighbors coming home late.

Sam had been livid after she’d seen Biff drop off the bike and texted Haddie at the emergency room. Rock had been taken care of, and evidently, Jisoo had been hungry. The cat should be the size of Rock with all she ate. Once Haddie agreed to allow her over in the morning to walk Rock, Sam had calmed down. Likely, she was watching their arrival from her apartment.

They were soaked after climbing the stairs to her door. Liz’s attempt with the umbrella became almost comical. Haddie followed shakily, using the railing like she never had before. Her key seemed too thick in the lock.

As she turned off the alarm, Rock kept trying to sniff the plastic bag over her bandage. “Hey, Boy. Mama’s home.”

Liz stood unsure with the dripping umbrella. “What can I do? Do you need help getting out of that shirt?”

Haddie’s sleeve ended in a soggy black knot from the dried, then rain-soaked blood. “Yeah, sure.”

Jisoo strolled from the living room into the kitchen and complained.

Rubbing Rock’s ears, Haddie yelled into the kitchen. “You’ve been fed. Don’t lie.” It should have felt good to be home, but she fought tears.

Jisoo lied with a long mournful cry. Haddie motioned for Liz to drop the umbrella by the door and led the way to the bedroom. Sam had left the living room light on, but the rest of the house remained dark. For the first time in a long time, Haddie felt uncomfortable in her apartment. Rock would not have let anyone come in. Except Dad; he had a way with dogs, any dog.

She flicked the light on and kicked a path to her bathroom. A bath would be good, but the bed called dibs. Dropping the bag with the jacket on the floor, she turned on the light and began unbuttoning her blouse. The shirt wasn’t worth saving. Besides, this was not a memory she needed.

Liz stood awkwardly waiting to help. “I’m serious. You shouldn’t be alone. Do you want me to spend the night?”

Haddie doubted Liz would be more intimidation to any intruder than Rock would be. A nice offer. If she seriously thought there was danger, though, she wouldn’t bring Liz into it. “I’m going to be fine, but if you want, I’ll give you Sam’s number; she’s right across the street.”

“Okay.” Liz meant it.

Haddie shrugged off the right sleeve and straightened her left arm so that Liz could begin unrolling the bloody knot and slide the shirt off. The moistened blood stained the plastic bag over the bandage with dark streaks. A nauseating mess. She let Liz rinse off the paste of blood inside her elbow and then peel off the tape and bag.

“What else can I do?” Liz found the garbage can and laid the plastic bag on the pile mounding on top.

“Nothing. I swear, the moment you leave, I’m dropping the rest of these clothes on the floor and heading into bed.” Haddie pushed Liz out the bathroom door.

Rock hovered, concerned.

Liz let herself be escorted to the front door. “I’m going to worry.”

“That will make me feel much safer.”

“You should —”

“Liz, I just need to sleep. Go. I’ll call in the morning.”

Rock had joined them at the door and nuzzled Haddie’s hand. Liz took the umbrella, and with two last protests, left. Haddie leaned against the door after she locked it, staring across the living room to her bedroom. Her computer sat on the wall beside the door. She still had a paper due Monday, and time to work on it, thanks to fouling up her job. How many classes had she missed this week?

Nothing she’d done had helped Mel. The most useful thing she might have done was get mugged, if Detective Cooper followed through and investigated. She still couldn’t make up her mind about him. However, him showing up at the hospital had been beyond weird.

Haddie stumbled toward the bedroom. There was nothing she could do for Mel. Even if Andrea did let her work on the case in a couple days, it would be tightly monitored. No more trips to Portland, stalking mail trucks, or breaking into Mark Coleman’s office. They’re right. I get obsessed. She didn’t think things out. Tears stung her eyes, and she shook her head and wiped them away.

The storm pounded against her bedroom window, dulled only slightly by the curtains. When she turned the bedroom light out, the living room spread a dull glow through the doorway as she slipped out of her bra and tossed it to the floor. She unbuttoned her slacks and sat on the edge of the bed — she had one good arm, and calf-high boots. They were her habit when she rode the Fat Boy, the scar on her calf a childhood reminder. Damn, she should have let Liz help with the boots. She probably should have taken Liz up on the offer of company, but she couldn’t leave Rock home alone if there was any danger.

Tears welled again as she loosened laces. Now, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself.