Wicked Deceptions - Amy Cecil Page 0,60

foul play could be involved. Perhaps this was a murder of passion and jealousy with the driving force here being jealousy.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“What’s her name?”

She handed him the papers in her hand. “Melanie Stone. She lives in Centreville, on Rosebud Lane. Her address is right there.” She pointed at the bottom of the top page.

“Rosebud, really?” Daniels chuckled. Rosebud was a sled in the Orson Wells movie, Citizen Kane. The eeriness of this case was starting to feel like an old black-and-white Orson Wells movie or, perhaps, Alfred Hitchcock. “Does she have a sled?”

She laughed too. “Yeah, I know, but really, it’s Rosebud Lane.”

“Well, perhaps we need to bring her in for questioning.”

No sooner than Daniels had made that suggestion, Brady walked into his office. “Got good news!” He walked up to Daniels’s desk. “We’ve matched a fingerprint from the murder weapon.”

“That’s awesome.” Brady handed Daniels a piece of paper. Daniels was astonished by what he saw written on the paper. He looked up toward Anna. “Melanie Stone.”

Anna gasped. Something gnawed at Daniels. Everything with this case had started out as a dead end, but now everything was falling into place. Something wasn’t right. It’s too easy.

“Lieutenant? You okay?” Anna asked.

Distracted, Daniels said, “Yeah, I’m good.” Then he continued with a little less distraction to his voice. “Looks like we need a warrant instead.”

Anna nodded and said, “Yes, it does. I’d like to be there when you bring her in if that is okay?”

“Of course.”

Daniels picked up his phone and buzzed Susie. “Susie, I need you to get a warrant issued for a Melanie Stone, 6005 Rosebud Lane, Centreville. She’s a murder suspect in the Halloween case. Brady has all the information you’ll need to verify the evidence for the judge.”

“Yes, sir,” Susie replied over the intercom. “I’ll get right on that.”

“How long will that take?”

“Sometimes a couple of hours, sometimes a day. It all depends on the mood of the judge at the time. Keep your fingers crossed.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. Call me when you bring her in.” Anna gathered up her briefcase. “Talk to you soon.”

“Definitely, thanks, Anna.”

“It’s my pleasure. After all, it’s what we do—catch the bad guys.” She winked and then chuckled as she walked out of his office. Daniels couldn’t help but smile. He absolutely loved her laugh and her teasing nature. Daniels didn’t usually mix business with pleasure, but there was something about Anna that intrigued him. Not to mention the fact that he couldn’t stop thinking about their night together. He liked her, and when this case was over, he planned to get to know her better.

He watched her sashay out of his office. He could not help the huge grin that came upon his face. Yes, he was definitely going to get to know her better.

The rest of the afternoon was uneventful and quiet. Daniels was restless and anxious. He fucking hated this waiting game. As the afternoon turned into early evening, Daniels realized the warrant for Melanie Stone wasn’t going to come in before the end of the day. He hadn’t heard any more from Brady, and when he called the forensics department, he was told that he was out in the field. Probably doing what I had asked, Daniels assumed.

***

The next day, Daniels awoke with a spring in his step. He was sure that today his warrant would come through and he would have more answers on the case, even going so far as to hope that he would have a murderer taken in. After he showered and dressed, he made his way into the office, but not before he made his usual morning Starbucks run. He didn’t have time to go inside, so he just went through the drive-through.

Walking into the station, his quad venti flat white in his hand, Daniels was greeted by Susie. “Good morning, Lieutenant.” She smiled. “I’ve got some good news for you.”

He stopped at her desk. “Oh yeah?”

She handed him a piece of paper. “Your warrant.”

He smiled. “Thank you. I was hoping that would come in today.” He went into his office to put his case file and coffee down and then went back out to Susie’s desk. “Get Shark and another officer to bring her in please.”

“Will do, sir.” She picked up her phone and buzzed Officer Shark. Daniels could hear her talking to him as he walked back into his office.

When Susie buzzed him to tell him Officers Shark and Smith were heading out, he picked up his