The Other Side - J. D. Robb [111]
“Wickham wants every test in the book before we write up our report.”
“Wickham.” The second investigator spat the name with a snarl of disgust. “Easy for him. Now that he’s being forced to retire, he’s looking to go out in a blaze of glory. Nothing he’d like better than to uncover some sort of evil conspiracy so he can grab some headlines.”
“So what do we do?” the first detective asked.
The second bent to initial the document. “Simple. This was open-and-shut. Rain-slicked highway. Plenty of champagne flowing. Old geezer took the turns too fast and lost control.”
“Geezer?” Ted’s hands fisted at his sides as he turned to his wife. “Did you hear that idiot? He called me a geezer.”
“What’s more, darling, he’s decided that you were drinking and couldn’t handle the curves.”
“Did they test for blood-alcohol level? Did they even think to take a look at the car’s brakes?”
“You heard him, darling. Case closed. And we’re not allowed to interfere.”
Ted and Vanessa watched with matching looks of distress as the young detectives strolled away, still complaining about the hours they’d been forced to work lately and the lack of pay.
Vanessa turned in time to see her husband positioning a fan in front of the open file. While she watched, he plugged it in, causing the blades to begin turning furiously, whipping up the papers on the desk.
He picked up their file and carried it to the next desk, bearing the name Henry Wickham. Ted dropped the document on the desktop, then kept a hand on it as other papers fluttered about on the breeze.
Minutes later a paunchy, gray-haired man in rumpled suit, tie askew, walked to the desk and sat, sipping a fresh cup of coffee from the vending machine. Idly picking up the file, he began to read, before muttering furiously, “Young fools. Thought they’d rubber-stamp this, did they? Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Ted turned to his wife with a look of triumph. “Now maybe we’ll get the investigation we deserve.”
“Wickham?”
“You heard those young smart alecks. This guy’s probably seen enough in his day to know that no case should be closed until all the tests are conducted and the results are in. If, as they said, he wants one big important case before he retires, he’s our man. I’m betting he’ll put our car through a battery of tests. And though the guys in the field will grumble about the extra work, old Henry has enough seniority to get what he wants.”
“Oh, Ted.” Vanessa’s smile bloomed. “That was brilliant.”
“Thanks, babe.” He dropped an arm around her waist and led her through the walls of the building and out into the fresh air. “Now that our investigation is in good hands, we can concentrate on a way to keep Christina and Tyler safe from that murdering scum, Mark.”
“Chris?” Noelle Morgan’s voice drifted over the phone. “I ran into Mark yesterday, and he said you’ve given up your apartment to live in your parents’ house.”
“Yes. I want to stay close to Tyler while he gets through this.”
“What about your business? Mark told me that you haven’t been in your office once since the accident.”
“I’m perfectly capable of conducting business from here, Noelle.”
“I suppose that’s true. But what about Mark?”
“What about him?”
“He’s grieving, too, Chris. You know how he felt about your parents. He told me that you seem vague and distant, unable to concern yourself with anything but your little brother. It may be noble. It’s certainly understandable. But honey, Mark’s a man. If you’re not around to comfort him, there are plenty of women out there who would die to have Mark Deering in their beds.”
“Mark isn’t like that, Noelle. If he were, I’d sense it. Now, I really have to go. Thanks for calling. I know you’re only concerned with my happiness.”
“I am. I wish I could ease your grief, Chris. But I think the sooner you marry Mark, the sooner you’ll start to move on.”
Hovering, Ted and Vanessa turned to one another with matching looks of dismay.