Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

like this Runyan fella is going to need the training, guidance, or hand-holding that a brand new detective would. And it’s not like he’s coming from another city, or another state where they do things a little differently than we do. He’s just coming from across town. He already knows how the CPD operates, and violent crimes isn’t all that different from homicide.”

The ghost of a grin hit Gavin’s lips before he lowered his head, and Isaac wondered what was going on. When Gavin finally looked up, he was quietly laughing.

“Wow.”

“Sir?”

“I have been so turned around by this whole thing with Gerri that I’m obviously not thinking straight.”

Isaac grinned. “It’s all right, sir. It happens to the best of us.”

“Damn. What has this woman done to me, Ike?”

“Don’t worry. The stupid will wear off eventually. Just give it time.”

Gavin laughed out loud, and Isaac couldn’t help but join in. He’d never seen his boss in such a state before. It was kind of nice. He stood and headed for the door.

“Pete and I have a pair of killers to catch.”

“A pair?”

“We’re pretty sure our killer had an accomplice. And we’ve been hitting a wall in trying to bring our suspect in for questioning, so we’ve got a small sting operation in motion for today. I’ll update you when we have ’em in custody.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Isaac got to his desk just in time to hear Pete end a phone call. He looked up at Isaac with an almost gleeful expression.

“That was our lookout at the institution.”

“Nurse Freya Altman?” Or Gossipy Snow White, as he thought of her in his mind. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“She says Amber’s BFF just showed up for his regular visit.”

“That’s our cue.”

They high tailed it out of the pit and snagged a two-man patrol car to join them. Then they raced across town to the Lakewood Mental Institution.

After instructing the two uniformed officers on what was about to go down and who their target was, they rushed inside, badges at the ready.

They moved with precision, knowing exactly which room they were headed for.

In the hallway across from Amber’s door, they saw nurse Josephine Turner speaking to a tall, dark haired young man that Isaac recognized from pictures he’d found during their investigation as Danny Broderick.

The instant the pair looked up and spotted them, the man bolted.

He took off down the hallway, and the chase was on.

The unfamiliar corridors were like running through a maze. Danny led them this way and that, finally ending up in Amber’s room.

When they caught up to him, Danny was kneeling at Amber’s feet, holding her hands, and speaking softly to her.

Panting, Isaac and Pete looked at each other, and Pete pulled out his handcuffs.

“Wouldn’t it have been a whole lot easier without the sprint through the hallways, Danny?” Isaac asked.

Danny grinned. “I needed a few moments to accept my fate.”

Isaac motioned to Pete with a nod of his head.

“I’m going to need you to stand up, Mr. Broderick. You’re under arrest for the murders of Bobby Cook, Craig Wentworth, and Michael Rivers. You have the right to remain silent.”

While Pete continued to recite Danny Broderick his rights, Isaac looked and saw nurse Josephine Turner watching intently from the hallway. When she caught him staring, she put on her most distraught face.

“I can’t believe it. He’s such a nice young man. So caring and loving toward Amber. I can’t believe he’d do something like this, Detective.”

“Really? Even though you helped him?”

“What? Helped him! Why, I never…”

“We have video surveillance of you and Danny buying tools for your revenge murder spree, so save your lies for the coming trial jury, okay.” He looked at the two uniformed officers standing behind her in the hall. “She’s coming with us, gentlemen.”

They took her into custody, and Isaac turned his attention back to Danny.

“Where’s the murder weapon, Danny? What’d you use? Machete? Kukri?”

“The machete is back in my father’s knife collection, where it belongs. He’s a real enthusiast. You can’t imagine how many times I fantasized about taking one of them to school and exacting justice. So, I finally did.”

Isaac made a mental note to seek a warrant to search Danny Broderick’s father’s home.

“I have to ask. Why’d you do it, Danny? More importantly, was it worth it?”

The young man laughed, but it was a sad sound, devoid of joy.

“Seriously? I’d do it all again, because I love her.”

He stared at Amber, and Isaac slowly began to nod.

“That’s what all this has been about, isn’t it? They hurt the woman you loved. You’ve been in love with Amber since high school.”

“Since before that, actually.”

Danny’s voice was sad and smug, and he kept his eyes on Amber as she sat, unmoving, in her chair.

“I fell in love with her when we were children. I didn’t give a shit about what those small-minded, homophobic, neanderthal assholes did to me back then. But I could not let them get away with what they did to her. I went to her brothers, mistakenly believing that they had backbones. But they were no help at all. Pussies! But Amber stood up for me for years when I was too weak to do it myself. So, for once, I was going to be her champion. I did what no one else was willing to do. Not even the cops. I did it because I love her, and I would do it again.”

“But you’re going away now. You won’t be around to visit Amber anymore.”

Danny smiled, and a lone tear rolled down his cheek.

“That’s okay. We’ve said our goodbyes. We knew this could happen. But we knew it had to be done. Didn’t we, my love?”

Amber’s vacant eyes lifted to Danny’s, and Isaac could swear he saw the ghost of a smile hint at her lips. As her gaze drifted back to her lap, he saw tears fall. It was the only sign of life Isaac had seen from her.

He glanced at Pete, who’s expression of