Picture Perfect

Chapter 13

There were three guarantees during the winter months in Milwaukee: it will be cold, very bone chillingly cold; there will be snow, probably a shit ton; and the homicide division will be busy. Too much time indoors is never good for peoples temper. Then you add in family gatherings and alcohol, you've got a deadly next.
During my three years in the homicide division this time of year it seemed everyone's new case basket was a bottomless pit. I can't imagine how my sister must feel. I honestly don't know how the ME's office keeps up since we barely do.
The only up side to this time of year now was I could push the unsolved Olsen case to the back of my mind. New Berlin didn't want our input on the Garcia case so we were only responsible for the one.
"Morris, Williams got another one for you." The captain yelled from his office.
"Gee, haven't heard that in the last twenty minutes." Hayley said sarcastically as we both stood up and walked towards his office.
When we were seated I immediately spoke up jokingly, "You know Capt if you paid me a couple bucks every time you said that lately I could easily afford the ten WII games Santa promised Bash would be under the tree in three days."
"Very funny Morris." He replied without an ounce of humor in his voice. He handed each of us a copy of the preliminary report and told us what he knew about the double homicide on the North side we were now investigating.
After spending a few hours talking with the list of witnesses provided we were both pretty sure who did it but we still needed to make a trip to the morgue.
I was barely in the door when Kayla ran up to me frantically. "The boys want to cook Christmas Eve dinner."
"Huh?" I answered, her statement threw me off.
"My thirteen year old twins, your nephews, want to make dinner on Christmas Eve. They want to cook!"
I shrugged, "Alright, one less thing I have to do."
Kayla looked shocked, "Those two fuck up toast, you expect them to make edible lasagna? I'm not sure they can be trusted to make the salad!"
I laughed and said, "Come on Kay, even Sebastian can't mess up the salad. It comes from a bag."
"Exactly my point!" She replied looking furious.
"Okay relax sis, deep breaths. Just send the boys over around four on Friday and I'll supervise. They won't fuck up dinner." I said hoping this would calm her down long enough to find out if they had even done the autopsies of our cases.
Hayley had been hiding her laughter throughout Kayla's tirade but decided this was a good moment to chime in, "Anyway Bash is there to make most of it like last year right Ash?"
"WHAT?" Kayla screeched. She was obviously not amused by Hayley's horribly timed attempt at a joke.
"She's kidding Kay. Everything will be fine. You know Bash loves to be helpful but he is not allowed to use sharp knives or the oven." I said first glaring at my partner then giving my sister a reassuring smile. "Now can we move on the way we're here?"
"Not funny detective smartass!" Kayla spat at Hayley.
"I thought it was." She replied with a smirk. "Your face was priceless."
"Look, just because you've been my sisters partner forever, it doesn't give you free reign to be a royal bitch."
"Gees, relax. I'm just trying to lighten the mood. There's no need to be so harsh." Hayley said with her hands up in surrender.
"Oh I'll show you harsh!" Kayla said then lunged towards Hayley.
Luckily I was quicker than my sister and pushed her away from Hayley. I stood between them and brought out my stern mom voice. "ENOUGH!" I looked between the two to make sure they were listening then continued, "Do not make me have to explain to my son why his aunts are in jail for Christmas!"
"Yeah right!" Hayley said sarcastically. "Even if you tried we'd be out in no time, way before Christmas Eve which is tomorrow."
"You wouldn't!" Kayla said firmly and questioningly at the same time.
I continued to glare at both of them. "Oh I could and I would so don't tempt me!" After a moment of tense silence I smiled and added, "Hell I may consider it just to have a more peaceful Christmas. Are you two gonna behave now?"
"Yeah." They both said in unison.
"Wonderful! Now Kayla, double homicide from the North side. Twenty-five and thirty year old African American males. Identified on scene as Ryan Jones and Jamie Martin. Ring any bells?"
"Came in when?" Kayla asked walking over to the computer.
I rechecked the file before answering. "About five in the morning. Shoot out seems to have happened right after bar close."
"Here we go, they're next up on Jack's schedule. Anything specific you need?"
"Honestly just the bullets and fingerprints. We've got three guns, all missing rounds. We just have to figure out who had which gun and who shot who. We have a third suspect over at Froedtert."
"Sounds like fun. I'll put a note on the file to call you when the evidence goes to the lab."
"Thanks sis. We'll talk to you later."

After we were outside I turned to Hayley and said, "Did you really have to do that?"
"What?" She questioned trying to look innocent.
"You are such a bitch sometimes." I replied shaking my head. I did love that Hayley was just like another sister but the sister bickering between Kayla and Hayley was a bit much at times.
"True," She nodded and smiled. "So how about we call it a night?"
"Works for me. All our cases are waiting for either lab results or arrest warrants."
Hayley nodded, "Yeah, what's up with the DA's office lately? They're slower than usual."
"My guess is the new ADA hasn't gotten used to her job yet. I heard she's the daughter of a hot shot corporate lawyer who left her daddy's firm to work among us little people." I said with a smirk.
    "Well the important question must be asked, is she cute?" Hayley said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
    "How the hell should I know, I've never seen her. I've only heard about her. You'd have to do more digging than I care to if you want to know if she's gay and available."
    Hayley shrugged, "Don't matter to me. Everyone's straight until they're not and I'm not in the market for a wifey." She finished with a laugh.
    I just shook my head and replied, "You need help, you know that right?"
    "No what I need is a drink. What do you say partner? We could swing by The Pint, Mona's, The Nut Hut? Completely your choice."
    "I'll pass. Sleep sounds like a wonderful idea to me."
    Hayley shook her head sadly, "You know you'll never find anyone if you don't put yourself out there."
    "Very true and I'm okay with that." I said hoping that would end this conversation. Unfortunately I knew Hayley wouldn't let it go that easily.
    "Look I get that Jenna fucked with your head Ash but trust me most women are not as fucked in the head at that chick."
    I sighed, "My disinterest in seeking out a romantic life has nothing to do with Jenna."
    "If you say so." Hayley said as we headed out the building. "If you change your mind just text me."
    I waved then got into my car. I hated when Hayley brought up my ex. I couldn't argue that our relationship was messed up from the get go. We did this weird push pull thing. At times it seemed we were breaking up every other week. I still can't explain why I kept going back to her. When we were broken up she would threaten suicide, stalk me and even try to use those I cared about against me to prove how much better she was for me than them. It was like the more my friends and family hated her and told me she was completely wrong for me, the more I needed to be with her.
    Looking back on it all I realize how crazy it all was but at the time I was always sucked back into her web. I mistook obsession for true love. I became someone I didn't recognize and someone my loved ones didn't like. It affected every part of my life negatively to a dangerous extreme.
    The relationship finally ended seven months ago after two years. Jenna called me for one of our nightly talks, which were sometimes pleasant and sometimes volatile. This night she was in the mood for a fight. She started off laying into me about why we couldn't live together. She knew I was hesitant because we weren't a stable couple and I refused to subject Sebastian to the consent rollercoaster that was going to be bad and Sebastian was totally focused on his Legos so I went in my room and shut the door, he didn't need to hear this.
    Jenna and I were yelling and cussing up a storm at one another. It seemed every negative moment of our entire relationship was fair game. Suddenly I heard a sound that made my stomach drop, Sebastian screaming. As I ran towards the living room I dropped the phone, Jenna still screaming at me. When I entered the living room I saw my son laying on the floor near the bookcase, blood gushing out from above his eye. Immediately I grabbed a previously discarded sweatshirt and pressed it to his head to try to stop the bleeding without success. I had no choice but to go to the ER so I grabbed him, my phone which I easily located because Jenna was still yelling, my keys and ran to my car. I drove the five minutes to West Allis Memorial with Sebastian on my lay and my phone, which Jenna was still yelling, on the passenger seat. I don't know why I didn't hang up on her soon but as I pulled into the ER entrance I finally hit End Call. Later after I told he what happened she was pissed that I hung up on her and livid that I was paying more attention to my son than her during our phone time, that was the final straw.
    She tried her old tricks after that night but I was able to finally resist. Although Sebastian wore his stitches with pride, for me they were a constant reminder of how I failed as a mother. He never would have climbed the bookshelf if I had been paying attention. He was trying to get a book we read together every night before bed.
    That night snapped me back to reality in more ways than one. Besides the hospital visit, Aaron called social services on my saying I was an unfit parent. That brought on his attempt at full custody and our current living situation. I haven't sworn off relationships completely but after being as screwed up as I was over Jenna I was in no hurry to find another woman.