Chapter 31

“Son of a Bitch!” Darrell shouted at the phone. The phone woke Darrell from his deep sleep on the couch and Schrödinger wasn’t too happy either.

“What?” Darrell answered the ringing phone with a tone of disdain.

“Yep, I’ll be there shortly. Did you call Detective Adams?” Darrell waited for the dispatcher to finish talking.

“OK, thanks.” Darrell hung up the phone and then called Gayle

“Be there in 10 to pick you up.” Darrell waited until Gayle agreed and then hung up the phone. He changed clothes and hauled his butt out to the car. He drove to Gayle’s house and waited for her to get into the car.

“Two this time! What the hell is going on?” Darrell looked at Gayle as he spoke, “This is becoming a nightmare, well, a worse one than we already had. I am seriously thinking that this is someone just trying to piss us off!”

Gayle looked at Darrell, secretly knowing it wasn’t just pissing him off but the Lords work was being done and she was a part of something that was glorious and heavenly.

“What do you think?” Darrell spoke again to Gayle who was daydreaming about her earlier deeds. Gayle blinked and looked at Darrell and then quietly spoke “Sorry -was in a deep sleep when you called, still trying to wake up. But ya I agree, this is brutal.”

Gayle felt a twinge of giddiness in her stomach and then immediately tried to suppress those feelings before she got to the crime scene.

When the Detectives arrived on scene, the FBI agents were already there, as was Dr. Aspinall. The Medical Examiner was doing his duty by taking liver temperatures as well as establishing lividity. There were approximately twelve people at the crime scene and it seemed that there were a never-ending set of eyes on Gayle. Her conscience was starting to catch up with her. At least it seemed to when there were all these people here who could, at a moment’s glance, figure out that she was helping with these murders.

“Well Doc, what do we have here?” Gayle spoke to Dr. A. She noticed that he quickly cringed at the “Doc” comment.

“Well Detectives, I can’t tell you much. These two girls were killed within an hour of each other and this one was first, because of the way the blood has pooled in her limbs.” Dr. A spoke very quickly and efficiently. There was no room for questions or comments. The Doctor looked at Darrell and asked simply,

“Anything else Detective?”
“No, if that is all you can give me, then I am happy with that.”

Darrell knew that there was nothing else to ask if the medical examiner had said that there was nothing else for them to know.

Darrell made eye contact with Agent Frie, so he motioned to Gayle to move toward the FBI agents.

“Fine, but you are buying breakfast!” Gayle chided over her shoulder as she walked over to the agents.

Darrell gave Gayle the thumbs up and then proceeded to watch Dr. A. do his work. Darrell grabbed his note pad and started to take notes as he watched the two girls being loaded into the Coroner van.

When Darrell finished taking his notes, he looked over to where Gayle and the FBI agents were and walked over to join the conversation. As Darrell got closer he heard Gayle speak.

“No, that is not what I think. I think that Collins guy and a friend are trying to screw with us.”

Darrell got closer and put his hand on Gayle’s shoulder.

“Remember that these agents are here to help. I know you still think that Randy Collins is your man, but I am agreeing with the agents. I believe there is a team, a dominant and a submissive. And I don’t think Collins is either of them.”

Gayle scowled at Darrell and the other FBI agents; she scoffed and then walked away in a huff. Secretly she smiled at her performance.

“If that doesn’t take them in the wrong direction I don’t know what will.” She thought to herself as she walked over to where the Medical Examiner’s van was.

“Is there anything else Detective?” Dr. A asked Gayle.

“Um not that I can think of Doc! Can I come and watch the autopsy?” Gayle asked with eagerness.

“I’d prefer that you didn’t. I prefer to do my work alone and in silence without a lot of periphery noise.” Dr. A spoke shortly at Gayle.

“Oh, OK then!” Gayle said slightly disappointed. “Please let me know when you are finished with them.” Gayle pointed at the back door of the van.

“I will.” Dr. A said as he walked to the driver’s door. He opened the door, got in, started the van and drove back to his office.

Gayle waited for Darrell at the car; she was in no mood to listen to theories of who would do such things. Now it was her job to protect the Whisperer at any cost. She owed him that much. He had recognized the darkness in her and she was appreciative of that. As she was waiting she recollected the evening’s amusement and wondered how long it would take ‘The Great Detective Darrell Darker’ to figure out she was a part of the “team” they were now looking for.

“Ready?” Darrell spoke to Gayle. Darrell noticed that Gayle was once again in dreamland and put his hand on her shoulder which made her jump.

“Holy, take a deep breath girl, you are off in the clouds tonight. You ready to go?”

“Sorry, this case is not what I had anticipated when I joined Homicide. Kind of figured it would be suicides and domestics, not serials right off the bat. And yes I’m so ready to go.”

Darrell nodded once. He was getting a vibe from her that he just didn’t know what to make of, but he kept that to himself and would ponder over it later. “Breakfast?”

“Ya, it’s your call! But food sounds great.” Gayle opened the door and got in the car, closed the door and waited until Darrell was in.

“Thanks by the way!”

“For what?” Darrell asked confounded.

“For making me feel like a part of the team.” Gayle looked shyly at Darrell and suddenly he understood the vibe he was getting. She wasn’t used to being part of a team; she was used to being the leader of the team.

“No problem!” Darrell said.

“Now let’s hit my favorite breakfast spot. You’ll love it! The cook is an absolute genius with eggs!” Darrell smiled and started the car and drove Gayle to the hole-in-the wall restaurant that he got most of his meals from.