Page 52 of Hesi-Dating
"Please don't judge me. If I don't go, I'll get him killed. Maybe even you too. I couldn't live with myself if that happened. I can't see him anymore." I gave the dog a huge hug as if he was Seth. "You're a lucky guy to have him as your dad."
ChapterNineteen
SETH
"If I don't go, I'll get him killed."
Before she said that I'd almost called out to her. The wording suggested someone threatened her about seeing me. Was someone holding something over her to prevent her from being in a relationship? Could be a stalker or an ex-lover, maybe someone else.
The determined and focused side of me woke up. The need to solve and then safeguard someone was a familiar mode for me. I could compartmentalize what had been a beautiful connection with Joley while in objective work mode.
Even as I thought it, I wanted to run after her and hold her tight to protect her, but that comment added a new layer that needed figuring. She was self-sufficient and strong-minded enough to be able to work her way out of tough spots. That meant this had to be something dangerous.
Disappointment verging on desperation snaked tight in my gut as I watched a car pull up the drive. In the pre-dawn darkness I recognized her sister, the veterinarian, in the driver's seat. I was glad it wasn't some random driver. She'd get home safe.
I brewed coffee and watched the liquid's slow drip into the glass pot. I shouldn't do what I was about to do. It was an invasion of privacy. Yet, someone didn't want us to be together. Someone with influence over her wanted her scared. That was unacceptable. That was something I could fix.
The answer lay in the past. A huge part of me hoped it had nothing to do with whoever hurt her physically when she was young.
I moved my laptop from my office into the kitchen and logged into the state system. I hadn't searched Joley before. It'd felt like a violation. Now, it was a matter of self-preservation and protection. I didn't fear someone coming after me. I'd faced death and stared it down one too many times. My life had an expiration date. I didn't know when but until the moment death hit me, I'd do my damnedest to protect those I cared about.
When I searched her in the system, I came up with the few traffic violations like she'd mentioned. Warmth gathered in my belly to know she hadn't lied. I expanded my search to cast the net long into the past. Her name popped up in the system. Thirteen years ago.
A double homicide?
My chest tightened to the point breathing felt like I had a donkey sitting on my ribs.
I skimmed through the start of the incident report.4:55pm:9-1-1 call from Ben Sobec at 1623 Belmont Drive reported gunshots from inside the house at 1625 Belmont Drive. 4:59pm: 9-1-1 call from a sixteen year-old male child, Nostradamus Vance at 1625 Belmont Drive reporting when arrived home heard gunshots. Two officers, Sgt. Brent O'Donell and Sgt. Michael Jones, arrived on scene at 5:18 pm. Upon entry found a 14-year-old female, Joley Krieger, locked in an upstairs bathroom. She reported her foster mother, 37-year-old Jackie Thompson, had been shot by her boyfriend, 43 year-old Warren Perez. Thompson found in bedroom with gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Krieger reported Perez raped her at gunpoint after shooting Thompson. In a struggle the gun went off, hitting Perez mid-chest. Evidence of strangulation bruising on Krieger's neck. Ambulance transported her to the hospital. Vance reported upon arriving he heard gunfire. He witnessed Perez's death and called 9-1-1.
I dropped my head and slammed my fist on the counter.
Fuck.
I massaged my forehead and cursed again. Not a surprise Joley distrusted men. To go through that as a teenager…it would mess up most people. What a miracle she didn't end up on the streets doing drugs or prostitution. I’d had conversations with one too many women forced into those situations when they had nothing else.
Her comment about exotic dancing skittered through my brain. Maybe she had fallen apart for a time, but somehow, she'd pulled herself together. Her sister probably played a huge part in that. Dr. Amber seemed like someone who'd be fiercely protective of those she loved.
If I could find this report, then so could anyone in the department.
I stared at the words on the screen. The incident had been written off as self-defense on her part.
Nostradamus Vance.Why did that name sound familiar?
I let my mind relax on the name. It'd come to me.
Horrendous story. Based on the endless domestic calls I'd gone on or my people attended to daily, that probably hadn't been the first time the boyfriend attacked her. If he hadn't already died, the law be damned, I'd kill him myself.
I searched the other foster kid. Nickname on the top of the screen: Nosh.
I pushed my chair away from the table and sat back.
Oh, hell.
I pulled up a screen on local gangs, scrolling to the one led by a "Nosh."
Too small a world to be more than one Nosh.
The little bit known about this leader said he had origins in L.A. Like Joley.
