Melody: A Novel Part 25

"What in the h.e.l.l are you talking about?"

"You mean he can have you over there and not be tempted to make a move?"

"Contrary to popular belief, Keith, every man isn't out to get p.u.s.s.y, okay?"

He grinned. "We're all out to get p.u.s.s.y, Melody. It's just that some men dress up their methods better than others. You seem to think Lucas is better than the average man. Don't be so sure, Mel. I get the feeling he'd be jealous as h.e.l.l to know you're staying with another man. Especially after the hot, pa.s.sionate, sensuous night you two obviously had." He laughed. "Was it all that you waited for and more?"

She leaned over on her suitcase. "Is there something you wanted?"

"There's always something I want, Mel." He threw the wrapper in the tiny wastebasket. "I hate it when Sarah's upset, you know? I mean, you can do what you want with me, but I don't like it when she's hurt. Do you understand me?"

"I'm going to the police, Keith. I'm going to tell them that you put the snakes in my bed."

He grinned. "Kind of farfetched, right? Mel, you tell a story like that and you'll end up locked up. No one is gonna buy that I'd do anything like that."

"They will once they see what kind of person you are."

"Sarah didn't believe you about the snakes, did she?" He sat on her bed, watching her closely. "Anyway, I told you that I wouldn't take you snooping into my business and going to Mr. Lawson. Oh, that was a huge mistake, Melody."

"Oh, and one more thing, Keith." She grinned. "Your little plan of trying to cause friction between Lucas and me didn't work."

"What are you talking about?" he groaned.

"He told me you told him that I went to his father about you. I can't imagine you telling him the honest reason, so I'm sure you lied through your teeth. It didn't work. You're trying to control me, but you can't, so you went to Lucas?"

"That's right, and that's nothing compared to what I can do if you don't back off!"

"My G.o.d, Keith, what's wrong with you? You have a big problem. I am dead serious. I think you need mental help. You can't take not being in control. But you're not in control with me, are you? That's why you continue your sick little games behind Sarah's back."

"I can control you in more ways than one, Melody," he whispered. "Anyway, this became war when you went to Mr. Lawson."

"After you a.s.saulted me, Keith! You may do this with other women, but you won't do it with me! Since Sarah refuses to listen, I no longer feel obligated to her. That means that if you f.u.c.k with me this time, I'll pull out all the stops! And I will go to the police if I have to."

"Then let me oblige." He smirked.

"What?"

"No need in going to the police without a reason, huh? Why don't I give you one next time? It would make everything easier for you, Mel."

"My G.o.d, you are sick. Stay away from me, Keith." She tried to leave. He blocked her.

"Can't wait to see you at work, Melody." He walked away, grinning.

Sarah walked in. Melody couldn't believe that a total stranger could break a bond between sisters. That bond should have been stronger than steel. She stared at her sister's torn face. Maybe Sarah regretted Melody's sudden decision. Yet that wasn't enough.

"Good-bye, Sarah." Melody picked up her suitcase.

"Melody, think of how unfair this is! How would you feel if I asked you to choose between Lucas and me, knowing you love us both?" She sniffed.

Melody fit the suitcase underneath her arm. "Sarah, the point is that you'd never even have to ask." She left.

"So this is supposed to be the Albany Predator, huh?" Craig gobbled down cereal at his kitchen table Monday morning. He stared at the black-and-white picture of Steven Kemp on the front of the newspaper. His arrest had made headlines. "He doesn't look guilty." A cornflake fell from his lips.

Melody sipped a gla.s.s of orange juice. "And how does someone look guilty?"

"You know what I mean." He chewed. "I know guilty people, and this cop doesn't look guilty to me."

"Well, Aileen and Cheyenne Wilson identified him as the rapist. They saw him as clear as day. I believe Aileen with all my heart."

"I believe her, too, Mel. Aileen is one of my dearest friends." She chewed toast. "Then why are you defending her rapist?"

"That's not fair, Melody. We can't just lock up an innocent man, thinking this will make everything go away."

"And what makes you think he's so d.a.m.n innocent? That's the part I don't get, Craig."

He sighed. "Why would this cop just start raping women? It makes no sense. Look here." He read Steven's statement. "He claims the rapist could be some lookalike."

"Isn't that a bit farfetched? He raped them, Craig. Case closed."

He shook his head. "Nah, I don't buy it, Mel. I don't think Steven Kemp is guilty of those rapes. It just wouldn't make sense. I know I don't know him, but I don't think he'd risk his career and everything he built, do you?"

"Look, you weren't there to see how torn up Aileen was. The minute she saw his face she freaked, Craig. Believe me, there's no mistake that Kemp raped her." She stood. "Anyway, the DA and judge at the bail hearing obviously believed it. He was denied bail." Craig stared at the newspaper. "I gotta get ready for work."

She left the kitchen.

Held without bail. Steven couldn't get the words out of his head. How could he prove his innocence while stuck in a jail cell for who knew how long? He tapped his fingers against the dirty wall as he looked up at the crusty little window. Streaks of dirt prevented him from seeing the beauty of the sunlight. He sat on the hard bed. If he didn't find a way out of this, he may never see the sunlight again. At least not in the same capacity.

Now he knew how some of the people he had arrested felt. He hadn't always made the best choice. He'd arrested some innocent people in his day. But he'd always realized that before prison came into the picture. He blew into his hands. He'd never felt so alone. He used to think being a cop meant everything. He knew staying behind these bars would wreck his high opinion of law enforcement.

His faith in the system grew dimmer as the hours pa.s.sed. He questioned how he could dedicate himself to something that had crucified him without hesitation. It hadn't mattered that he built his life on catching s.e.xual predators. It hadn't mattered that he'd always been one cop the force could trust. What had they done in return? Arrested him? Dragged his good name through the mud for all to see? Refused to hear his side? He looked at the dingy toilet beside him. A drunken man howled from the cell down the hall. Everything he worked for would be wasted.

Steven had to get out of jail if he had any hope of surviving this nightmare.

"Steve?" Brianna stood against the bars. Funny how she could erase even the worst times for him. He wondered if she truly knew how much he still loved her. He'd do anything to go back to that time when they were more than partners and friends. If he could only hold her for one more night, it would somehow be enough.

"Bree." He slumped to the bars. "So I guess you heard about me getting no bail, huh?"

"I can't believe this, Steven. This makes no sense! What about that organization that fights for cops, whose rights have been threatened? They could make a stink, and they may even be able to get you out, Steven."

"Bree, the judge has ruled. It doesn't matter what anyone else does. It only matters what I do from this point."

"Sounds like you have a plan. Mind sharing?"

"I don't have anything solid, except that I need to get this man. He's a clever son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h. While keeping tabs on you, he kept tabs on me. I bet he was ecstatic when he learned we looked so much alike. s.h.i.+t, it became all he needed to have an edge on the cops."

"It's so scary, Steven. I couldn't get yesterday out of my head. I kept seeing you behind that gla.s.s. I kept hearing Aileen and Cheyenne calling you a rapist in my dreams. And to think that this monster could look so much like you, I..." She leaned against the bars. "I'm so sorry, Steven."

He rubbed her fingers through the bars. "You believe me, Bree?"

"Of course! Steven, there was never a doubt in my mind. Jesus, we know each other more than anyone else on this earth. We were lovers. I know you, and I trust you. I believe in you and I know you're not a rapist. I'll never forget how I felt being caught up in the danger of almost being raped. He's nothing like you, even if he looks like you. He's pure evil, Steven. There's no other way to describe him. I know that you'd never hurt anyone the way he tried to hurt me. Soon, everyone will know it, too."

"I could do a better job of getting Commissioner Reynolds to see reason if Parsons didn't have his d.i.c.k in my a.s.s. He acts like I killed his mother or something. Can't they see he's doing this because he can't stand me? s.h.i.+t, I gotta get out, Bree." He pleaded. "I gotta go and take care of this myself. Parsons is just waiting to hang me! I can't just sit in here and wait."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I kind of hope there's another rape."

"Jesus why, Bree?"

"Because that would be the only thing that can prove you're really innocent. If the man claims another victim, then you'll be free. I know, it's a terrible thing to think of but I can't help it, Steven. You don't deserve to be in here for what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d has done. He's ruining your life and all you can do is sit here and take it."

"Maybe Arlen can tell me something I can do." He leaned against the bar. "Meanwhile, I want you to work the h.e.l.l out of the case. Don't let up on anything, Bree. You could be my only chance out of here right now. If I can't get the rapist, you gotta try your best to. Bree, you have to. Talk to the victims. Make them cooperate. Arrest them if you have to." She nodded. "Find anything and anyone who could lead us to this guy, Bree. My life and future depend on it."

She sighed. "I'll do all I can, Steven. Meanwhile, I want you to just stay grounded. I know it's hard." She looked around the dirty cell. "But it's all you can do at this point. No need in driving yourself crazy." She felt his hair. The action shocked him. "You got to keep your sanity, Steven. No one's gonna believe a nut."

He nodded. "As long as you're on my side I know I can do anything."

She smiled. Jersey walked up with Arlen.

"What's going on?" Steven stared at his attorney.

"Well, there may be a light in the tunnel after all." Arlen smiled. "Steve, I need to speak with you for a moment, then they want you back in the interrogation room." The guard opened the cell. Steven and Arlen sat on the little bed.

"Morris, I want you to come up, too. I need to speak to you." Jersey took Brianna by the arm. They made it to the room a minute later.

"What's up, Captain? I get the feeling this is good news."

"It is. Arlen wants Steven to do a DNA test." Jersey's eyes danced. "That way there will be no mistake!"

"Jesus, I wasn't even thinking about that!" Brianna guffawed. "Oh, this is great! Once he takes the test, then there will be no question!"

"Well, Parsons was dragging his feet, the little weasel. I think he thought Arlen was too stupid to go the DNA route. But what choice would he have in getting Steven off? It's the only way. We're going on the DNA for Cheyenne and Aileen specifically, but it won't make a difference which victim we compare Steven to. He's innocent."

"That's right." Brianna grinned. "I can't wait to see that rat Parsons's face."

The door opened. Parsons walked in looking like the cat that ate the canary.

"Did I hear my name?" He smiled at Brianna. "Detective Morris, how are you? Uh, is it just me, or do you have something you need to be doing? Like your job?"

She walled her eyes. "I'm doing it. In case you've forgotten, this is my case. Any developments that go on here, I need to know. I'll find the right rapist and when I do, I hope Steven s.h.i.+ts down your throat."

He lit a cigarette. "Well, I hope none of this offends you. Why are you so interested in what happens to Kemp, anyway?" He smirked.

"He happens to be my partner and my friend."

"Sure that's it?"

"What are you getting at, Parsons?" Brianna sighed.

"I think you know." He stared at her chest. "You and Kemp seem to have a connection other than professional. Am I wrong?"

Brianna looked at Jersey. "We used to date. It's no big secret. But that was a long time ago. I don't see what it has to do with anything, now."

"Just wondering, you know?" Parsons flicked his cigarette in midair. Jersey had become sick of the habit. "If I had such a beautiful and s.e.xy partner like you, crime fighting would be the last thing on my mind. I wonder how he even concentrates."

"There's nothing between Steven and me, okay?" She held her waist.

He winked. "If you say so."

"You won't be so c.o.c.ky once you leave here. You'll be too busy apologizing to Steven. But with all you've put him through, I'm sure apologizing isn't enough." Brianna smiled.

"On this DNA test thing?" Parsons rolled his eyes. "Let's wait until he takes it before we start celebrating hey, Morris?"

"You're gonna eat your words, Parsons. I promise you that." Brianna squinted.

"I find this tension between us mighty s.e.xy." He laughed.

"a.s.shole," she muttered. Jersey grinned.

Arlen, Steven and a uniformed officer walked in. The officer sat Steven behind the table. Arlen set his suitcase on the table.

"You told him yet, Arlen?" Jersey asked.

"No, Captain." Arlen smiled at his client. Steven waited wide-eyed. "Steven, there is one definite thing you can do to prove, once and for all, that you're not the rapist."

He looked at the company in the room. "I'm not the rapist, Arlen." Parsons walled his eyes. "Has the commissioner finally realized that? Have I been released?"

"Not so fast." Parsons flicked his cigarette.

"Steven, we want you to do a DNA test." Arlen grinned. "That's the sure-fire answer."

"Isn't that great, Steven?" Brianna grinned. Parsons looked at her.

"A DNA test would be the answer." Arlen looked at Parsons. "Once the tests come back negative there is no case."

"Still got Aileen's and Cheyenne's statements." Parsons winked.

"Agent Parsons, why are you so determined to lock Steven up for this?" Brianna crossed her arms. "You know once the DNA test is done you have nothing. Is that what you're worried about? Instead of arresting Steven, you should have been helping us find this a.s.shole. We've wasted valuable time putting needless energy on Steve." Brianna pointed.

"You're out of luck, Parsons." Arlen gestured to Steven. "The DNA test will vanish all possibility that Steve's the rapist. It won't matter what the ladies say. It's all up to hard evidence. His DNA won't match the rapist's and we all know it. Which means there will be no case."

"That's right." Brianna nodded.

DA Zachary sashayed in with her a.s.sistant. She hurriedly pa.s.sed the shaken young man her briefcase. "Well, looks like I got here just in time."

"As you did." Arlen nodded. "Once Steven takes a DNA test, you will have no case. I guess that's a lost cause for you, huh, Debra?" Zachary grinned. "I wouldn't be so c.o.c.ky if I were you, Arlen." She looked at Steven. "From the way Kemp is sweating, I don't know if a DNA test would work in his favor."

"He didn't do it and the DNA test will prove that." Brianna smiled.

"We'll get it done now." Jersey ordered. "Steven, you can meet with the..."