Songbird (completed)

chapter fourteen

When the detectives arrived at the Senators house, they walked in with grim faces and the receptionist at the desk got visibly nervous. "Good afternoon. How can I assist you?" She asked, her cheery voice cracking. Delia pulled out her badge. "This is my partner, detective Langdon. We need to speak to the senator." The receptionist nodded a few too many times, and casually glanced behind them. "You don't have to worry about your precious senator. Nobody was outside when we came in." Thomas added, his voice cold. The receptionist said nothing as she picked up the phone by her computer and spoke quietly into it for a few minutes. 
     When the receptionist finally got off the phone, she pointed the detectives down the hallway. Delia nodded a thanks to her and followed Thomas. Thomas knocked on the senators door and examined his fingernails. "Need a manicure?" she asked, trying to lighten him up. She managed to get a half smile from him, but it quickly disappeared when Harlem opened the door. The Senator had a glass of wine in one hand and she looked unsurprised that the detectives were there again. She said nothing and walked back into her office and back to her desk. Delia shot Thomas a glance and he rolled his eyes. "What can I do for you today?" She asked, sarcastically. She seemed a little drunk. Delia shook her head. "We have a few more follow-up questions." Thomas stated, pulling out his notepad. "How do you know Brock Connors dad, Steve Connors?" The senator stopped sipping on her wine. "We're friends. And occasional business partners." Thomas nodded and raised his eyebrows. "What kind of business do you do?" The senator gave a sly smile. "The kind of business that's not yours." she shot back. Delia saw the base of Thomas's neck get red, which was never good. Thomas could take a lot of things, but he did not handle disrespect well. Delia cut in. "Were you having an affair with him?" The senator laughed again. "So what if I was?" It was Delias turn to chuckle now. "Then you'd be apart of a murder investigation. You're daughter was 5 months pregnant at the time of her death. According to a friend of Beatrice's, the last person she slept with was Brock. The time frame matches. Brock got her pregnant, and you payed someone off to kill her. Maybe you payed Brock off. Maybe you payed Steve off. Hell you could have even payed off that receptionist out there." Delia pointed to the door. "You are responsible for the death of your daughter and her unborn child." Delia leaned on the senators desk, getting closer to her face. "And god dammit if I have to spend the rest of my life proving it, I will. " Delia straightened herself out and walked out the door. Thomas gave the senator a look, and followed suit. 
    When they were back outside heading towards the car, Thomas caught up with Delia. "You okay Vice?" He asked, nudging her with his arm. Delia sighed. "Her daughter just died. And instead of wanting to do everything to help us solve this case, she's sitting in her office getting wine drunk at 2 in the afternoon." She shook her head and unlocked the car. When they both got in the car, she continued. "I just don't understand it. It's so obvious that she's guilty. But how the hell are we going to prove it?" Delia hit her hand on the steering wheel and let out a groan. "We'll get her. I think we should go talk to Brock and his dad. See when the last time they saw Beatrice was." Thomas patted her shoulder. Delia didn't know how to take that. Their situationship was complicated. Delia was starting to rethink if she could actually keep this going. But for right now, she needed to push it aside. She had bigger problems to worry about. 

When they made it to Brocks house, Delia was drained. She just wanted to go home and sleep. But she knocked on the door and pulled out her badge for the third time that day. A younger boy, around high school age opened the door. "Hello, Im detective Coolman and this is my partner detective Langdon. We're looking for Brock and Steve Connors." Delia gave a weak smile, and the boy's face contorted into a confused look. "I'm Brock. My dad's at work right now. Do I need a lawyer?" He shook his head and retreated from them. "Not unless you've done something wrong." Thomas raised his eyebrow which made the kid more nervous. Brock nodded and motioned for them to come inside. He sat on the couch, and Thomas and Delia stood in front of him. "We just want to ask you a few questions about Beatrice Harlem." Delia smiled, reassuringly. Brock tilted his head. "Why?" Delia glanced at Thomas again. "Because people we've talked too say that you slept with her quite frequently. This is a murder investigation. And you're a suspect." Thomas said, putting it bluntly. Delia grimaced but nodded. Brock's face turned pale. "I slept with Beatrice. And I accidentally got her pregnant. But when I found out I told her I couldn't help her take care of it. I have a full ride scholarship to Yale right now. I would have to drop out and get a job. I told her I was sorry. And that I didn't want to hurt her. But I had to think about what was best for me." He clasped his hands together and bounced his knee. "Guess next time you'll use a condom and not ruin two peoples lives then?" Thomas remarked. Delia shook her head and grabbed Thomas by the shoulder. "Excuse us one moment." Delia said to Brock before pulling Thomas out of earshot. "What the hell are you doing?" Delia whispered. She threw out her hands and made a face at Thomas who was looking at something behind her. "Nobody but us is going to do anything to help solve this case. This case is going cold, Delia. I can't let that happen." Thomas shook his head. Delia sighed. "This isn't your daughter. And I think you need to realize that. Yes, she's a teenage girl. And yes, I am working just as hard to catch whoever did this. But if he lawyers up, we'll get nothing." Delia pleaded. Thomas nodded.
     When Delia and Thomas were finished getting information from Brock, they gave him their cards and told him they need to speak with Steve. They thanked him for his time and left, heading back to the police station to explore every dead end and cobweb filled corner.