Read Online Vicious by Debra Webb - Free Book Online
Authors: Debra Webb
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Thrillers, Police Procedural, reunited lovers, Starting Over, Faces of Evil Series, Obsessed Serial Killer, Southern Crime, Sibling Murderers, Southern Thriller
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may not be able to protect you …
That stone cold reality haunted Jess incessantly.
Birmingham Police Department, 12:50 p.m.
“I have a list of Templeton’s and Burgess’s friends and close acquaintances to interview, Chief.” Harper grabbed the massive steak and cheese sub sandwich he’d ordered and tore off a bite.
Cook tossed back the last of his soft drink and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Stacey Jernigan remembered all sorts of things after puking all over the interview room.”
Jess nibbled at her sweet potato fries. She had to eat, she knew this, but her appetite apparently wasn’t interested. “Anything more than the names of friends and acquaintances?” A couple of scenarios were drifting around in Jess’s head but none had anchored just yet.
“A couple details.” Cook hopped up and strode over to the case board. He tapped the photo of Alisha Burgess. “She and Templeton were lovers. Jernigan admitted the two women had been keeping the relationship secret.”
Evidently not secret enough . Jess sipped her apple juice and shuddered. It was awful. Why would people drink this stuff much less force it on their kids? “Why keep it a secret? She didn’t have any family here. Birmingham isn’t exactly L.A., but we have our share of non-traditional couples.” The bigger question remained, was the other woman in the painting Burgess? “Did she mention the painting?”
“She did not,” Cook said.
Photo in hand, Lori scooted back her chair and joined Cook at the case board. “Templeton kept the relationship a secret because she didn’t want her boyfriend to find out her roommate was also her one true love.” Lori added the photo of a twenty-something male beneath Templeton’s and announced, “Meet Rod Slater. He owns the building where Templeton managed the sex toy shop, along with half a dozen other small commercial buildings in the city. Since she lived in the apartment above her shop until two weeks ago, he was also her landlord. Slater and Templeton were in a relationship for about a year. Nothing serious. More like friends with benefits.”
Cook pointed to the photo. “Except, this guy wanted to be her only friend. Jernigan says Slater roughed Templeton up a couple of times. He kicked her out of the apartment and threatened to cancel the lease on the shop she managed. The next day Templeton moved into the Homewood house and took Burgess with her.”
Jess pushed her lunch aside. “Any witnesses to these violent episodes?”
“Not specifically the ones with Templeton,” Harper explained, joining the conversation. “I checked his record. Slater’s one of the possessive-aggressive types. He thinks the women he dates belong to him. They have to be faithful even if he’s not. His rap sheet confirms Jernigan’s allegations. Five counts of intimate partner violence over the past three years.”
“Pick him up.” Jess had no tolerance for men or women who abused their intimate partners or anyone else. Strength and power were not excuses to be a bully.
Harper grabbed the remains of his lunch. “On my way now, ma’am.”
“Detective Wells, why don’t you give Sergeant Harper a hand,” Jess suggested. If this guy Slater put up a fight, he would need someone to protect him from his bad decision. Harper was typically a quiet man but, like Jess, he had no patience with jerks.
Lori grinned. “Love to.” She grabbed her purse.
Harper waited for her at the door. They shared a secret smile. After they were gone Jess stared at the closed door for a long while. Lori and Chet were very lucky. They’d found each other and seemed to be on the right track for making their relationship work. So far, their personal lives hadn’t interfered with work. Jess was thankful. She wouldn’t want to part with either detective.
Cook cleared his throat and settled at his desk. “I’ll just keep going through the reports from the neighbors.”
Jess reined in her wandering
That stone cold reality haunted Jess incessantly.
Birmingham Police Department, 12:50 p.m.
“I have a list of Templeton’s and Burgess’s friends and close acquaintances to interview, Chief.” Harper grabbed the massive steak and cheese sub sandwich he’d ordered and tore off a bite.
Cook tossed back the last of his soft drink and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Stacey Jernigan remembered all sorts of things after puking all over the interview room.”
Jess nibbled at her sweet potato fries. She had to eat, she knew this, but her appetite apparently wasn’t interested. “Anything more than the names of friends and acquaintances?” A couple of scenarios were drifting around in Jess’s head but none had anchored just yet.
“A couple details.” Cook hopped up and strode over to the case board. He tapped the photo of Alisha Burgess. “She and Templeton were lovers. Jernigan admitted the two women had been keeping the relationship secret.”
Evidently not secret enough . Jess sipped her apple juice and shuddered. It was awful. Why would people drink this stuff much less force it on their kids? “Why keep it a secret? She didn’t have any family here. Birmingham isn’t exactly L.A., but we have our share of non-traditional couples.” The bigger question remained, was the other woman in the painting Burgess? “Did she mention the painting?”
“She did not,” Cook said.
Photo in hand, Lori scooted back her chair and joined Cook at the case board. “Templeton kept the relationship a secret because she didn’t want her boyfriend to find out her roommate was also her one true love.” Lori added the photo of a twenty-something male beneath Templeton’s and announced, “Meet Rod Slater. He owns the building where Templeton managed the sex toy shop, along with half a dozen other small commercial buildings in the city. Since she lived in the apartment above her shop until two weeks ago, he was also her landlord. Slater and Templeton were in a relationship for about a year. Nothing serious. More like friends with benefits.”
Cook pointed to the photo. “Except, this guy wanted to be her only friend. Jernigan says Slater roughed Templeton up a couple of times. He kicked her out of the apartment and threatened to cancel the lease on the shop she managed. The next day Templeton moved into the Homewood house and took Burgess with her.”
Jess pushed her lunch aside. “Any witnesses to these violent episodes?”
“Not specifically the ones with Templeton,” Harper explained, joining the conversation. “I checked his record. Slater’s one of the possessive-aggressive types. He thinks the women he dates belong to him. They have to be faithful even if he’s not. His rap sheet confirms Jernigan’s allegations. Five counts of intimate partner violence over the past three years.”
“Pick him up.” Jess had no tolerance for men or women who abused their intimate partners or anyone else. Strength and power were not excuses to be a bully.
Harper grabbed the remains of his lunch. “On my way now, ma’am.”
“Detective Wells, why don’t you give Sergeant Harper a hand,” Jess suggested. If this guy Slater put up a fight, he would need someone to protect him from his bad decision. Harper was typically a quiet man but, like Jess, he had no patience with jerks.
Lori grinned. “Love to.” She grabbed her purse.
Harper waited for her at the door. They shared a secret smile. After they were gone Jess stared at the closed door for a long while. Lori and Chet were very lucky. They’d found each other and seemed to be on the right track for making their relationship work. So far, their personal lives hadn’t interfered with work. Jess was thankful. She wouldn’t want to part with either detective.
Cook cleared his throat and settled at his desk. “I’ll just keep going through the reports from the neighbors.”
Jess reined in her wandering
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