Picture Perfect

Chapter 17

    "Let's talk over by the garage." Hayley said to Kayla after she had given Scott instructions.
    "Okay what the hell is going on?" Kayla asked impatiently, she hated being in the dark about anything.
    "The victims are Shaun Daniels and his parents." Hayley said quietly.
    Kayla mumbled the name repeatedly trying to place the name but it didn't take long. "Oh no!" Kayla started looking around, "But I thought they lived in those apartments by Ashlee and I's house."
    "They did until last week." Answered an older woman neither Kayla and Hayley had seen.
    Kayla immediately walked up and hugged her. "Gloria, I'm so sorry."
    "Thank you Kayla."
    Seeing Hayley's confusion Kayla explained, "This is Steve's mom. They lived a couple houses down from us growing up."
    This made Gloria smile slightly and say, "You two girls got my Steve into all sorts of trouble." Then she turned to Hayley. "The stories those three came up with to cover up what trouble they got into." Her face turned serious as she looked back at Kayla. "Are you and Ashlee working the case?"
    "Yes." Kayla answered. "We'll find whoever did this."
    "I know you will dear."
    "Ma'am can I ask you a couple questions?" Hayley asked hesitantly.
    Kayla quickly turned and glared at Hayley, "Really Williams? Can't it..."
    Gloria cut Kayla off, "What would you like to know?"
    "Gloria this can wait." Kayla spoke before Hayley could ask a question.
    "Relax Kayla, I know how this works. I've been a cops wife for thirty years. Jim may be retired going on five years now but I still remember those first couple of days of any investigation are important." She then turned to address Hayley. "And it's Gloria, ma'am just makes me feel old."
    Hayley gave a slight smile then asked, "You said they moved last week?"
    "Yes, this house was Steve's Christmas present to Adrienne and Shaun. He'd been picking up every extra shift he could for the last year and a half. He also picked up shifts at Joe's bar too. More than anything he wanted his family to have a permanent home again."
    "Again?" Hayley questioned. Her knowledge of this family wasn't extensive. All she knew was Shaun and Sebastian were best buds.
    "Three years ago their first house burned down. No one was hurt, thank god, but they couldn't afford to rebuild and Steve wouldn't accept any money from us. They sold the property but then Steve broke his leg and Adrienne got sick, it was a tough time. But this house was going to be their fresh start." Gloria finished, the emotion thick in her voice.
    Hayley took a deep breath then continued, "I don't mean to sound insensitive but why are you out here yet no one knew who was inside until Ashlee and I got here?"
    Kayla let out a frustrated sigh at what she thought Hayley was implying. "Gloria's not a suspect Hayley, she just lost her son, grandson and daughter-in-law."
    Hayley quickly defended herself, "That's not where I'm going with this Kayla. I'm just trying to understand how things went down here."
    Gloria spoke up before their tiff could continue, "It's okay Kayla, she has every right to ask. I came over early to help start Christmas dinner. I opened the front door and saw all that blood..." She took a few moments to compose herself before she continued. "I called out and heard no response. Honestly I was scared so I ran over here by the garage and called 911. The cops came, checked out the house and I think they forgot I was out here. I probably should have spoken up but I overheard a couple of officers talking about what it looked like in there and I knew I couldn't face it."
    "I understand Gloria." Hayley said sympathetically but continued, "I just have one more question if you're up for it?"
    "Of course Hayley." Gloria replied with a reassuring nod.
    "There was another woman found in the bedroom. Was there someone staying with your son and daughter-in-law?"
    Gloria looked surprised by this information. "Not that I know of."
    "Would it be alright if I have an officer bring out a picture of her, see if you recognize who she is?"
    Gloria could only nod.
    "Thank you Gloria." Hayley said. "I really am sorry for your loss."
    "Would it be alright if I sit in the backyard to wait for the officer?" Gloria asked.
    "Yes, I'll get someone out there in a few minutes."
    Before she walked away Gloria said, "Hayley, please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help."
    "I will. Thank you Gloria." Hayley said then waited until Gloria was out of ear shot before speaking again. "We've gotta find Ash."
    "Agreed! Where would she have run off to? Maybe home?"
    "Who knows. I could ask the uniform on the door which way she went." Hayley offered.
    "Don't bother, I didn't go far." I said walking up from the street. I had taken a slow walk around the block to clear my head and compose myself.
    "You okay sis?"
    "As okay as I can be." I said with a shrug. "I still have no idea what to tell Aaron and Bash. Aaron and Steve were close for so long. How do I tell Bash he'll never get to see his best friend again."
    "You'll figure it out, but for now we've gotta figure out who did this." Hayley offered.
    "I should get in there and help Scott."" Kayla said.
    Even though I didn't want to, we all went back into the house. I looked around the living room knowing this was personal, for me and for the killer.
    "The coffee cups still bother me." Hayley stated. "I mean why are all three out here whey the third adult is in the bedroom, obviously killed in there."
    I knew my partner was trying to get my mind away from my personal feelings and back into detective mode.
    "Especially cause they don't drink coffee." Kayla chimed in.
    "What?" Hayley and I both replied confused.
    Kayla turned to one of the officers milling around, "Can you check the kitchen for a coffee maker?"
    The cop gave her a strange look but went to the kitchen as requested. A couple minutes later he was back looking completely dumbfounded. "There is nothing related to coffee in that kitchen. Not even coffee cups."
    Kayla nodded and said, "Remember Gloria said Adrienne got sick, I don't remember what her condition is but she can't have coffee or maybe caffeine in general, one of the two. Either way they don't drink coffee."
    The officer was the first to pipe in, "So why are there three mugs of coffee on the table?"
    "Because of me I think." I said quietly.
    Kayla turned and said, "Look Ash we all know you're a coffee junkie but that can't have anything to do with this."
    The idea was forming in my mind but I was missing one key element, "What's TOD?"
    "My best guess is seven or eight this morning." Scott weakly answered.
    I shot a quick glance to Kayla who nodded in confirmation before I spoke. "Whoever is doing this was watching me."
    Hayley butted in, "Okay scary, but what makes you think that?"
    "Well timeframe works. Sebastian woke up at five this morning. I pulled out three cups for coffee because Cyndi spent the night but she didn't wake up till around six and fixed up her own cup." I noticed the uniform listening and he had a goofy grin on his face. Gees was there anyone in the department who didn't know I was gay. "My son's father's new girlfriend's, not mine. Anyways." I said drawing attention back to the couch. "Aaron and I were seated pretty much like this before Cyndi joined us. This might be a combination of the first couple hours of my morning. And let's not forget the lovely note our wonderful psycho left for me."
    When I finished everything was eerily silent, everyone just looked at one another waiting for someone to speak, or at least I was. "Shit will someone say something?" I finally blurted out.
    After a few more moments Hayley finally chimed in, "Hey Ash, can we go to your house and hang out with Aaron and Bash?"
    "No we need to figure out what happened here and who could do this." I demanded.
    Kayla walked over to me, grabbed my shoulders and looked me dead in the eye, "Ashlee Morris you need to go home, leave this house to the techs. If you're right, there is a sick fuck in this city who knows where you live. You and Hayley need to go watch over my darling nephew." Kayla smirked and added, "Serve up Aaron as bait if you feel like it."
    I laughed through the tears forming in my eyes, "You're crazy Kay, but you're also right. Thank you." I finished then gave her a hug.
    As I walked away Kayla grabbed Hayley's arm and whispered, "You keep an eye on her."
    Hayley smiled, "You guys are more like my family than my own. I won't let anything happen to Ashlee or Bash!"