The Bridge (Para-Earth Series) Read online

  “What kind of fine, Chief?” she asked, trying to sound professional.

  “That’s up to you, Sergeant. Just don’t wear him out. My wife would be interested in those dance lessons,” Roy told her. Then he added, “And Sergeant, watch out for the button on your shoulder radio when you’re kissing.” With that the patrol car zoomed away.

  Shaking her head she moaned, “I’m not going to hear the end of this for months.”

  “Yeah, but it sounds like he approves,” commented Alex proudly.

  Glaring at him she started jabbing a finger in his chest saying, “You had better be worth it, mister.”

  Instead of replying, Alex took her hand spun her around into a Rumba Shoulder Catch and back, then pulled her close and kissed her passionately.

  When they broke off she panted, “I get off duty at five.”

  “I’ll be there at 4:50.”

  She shook her head, “I need to take a shower.”

  “Got one inside,” he wiggled an eyebrow at her.

  “Me, and my handcuffs will be here at 5:15,” she smiled.

  He gave her a hurt look, “Gonna lock me in another room while you shower?”

  “Nope,” she kissed him again. “Gonna cuff your hands to the showerhead smart guy. They’ll remind me to go easy with YOU,” she added and then headed back to her patrol car.

  As she got in, she heard him mutter, “Bloody hell. I better not tell her about the four-poster bed?”

  Starting her vehicle, she rolled down the window and said, “Four-poster bed? I’ll have to grab another set of handcuffs and the leg shackles.”

  As she pulled out of the driveway, she looked in her rearview mirror. Alex was still standing there torn between excitement and worry.

  Ryan’s voice came over the radio interrupting her reverie. “Is this the place, Sarge?”

  “Yeah,” Ronnie replied, pulling off the road and dismounting. Wandering over to the skid marks in the road she traced them to the broken railing. From there she could see the tree that bore the scars of the ill-fated vehicle’s final stop.

  “Must’ve been traveling pretty fast to leave this kind of damage,” observed Ryan joining her. “How fast were they going when you spotted them?”

  Veronica pursed her lips, “50-60 easily. They were bound to lose control on a road this narrow.”

  “Considering they were already dead I don’t think they were really worried about it,” Ryan remarked staring down the road. “There’re a lot of curves further back, so why didn’t they crash sooner?”

  “That’s why we’re here, remember?” she replied, “Now let’s take a good look around and see if there’s any evidence of somebody being thrown from the vehicle. Then we’ll work our way back along the road to see if someone might’ve gotten out further back.”

  “Good plan,” her partner nodded. But there was a troubled look on his face.

  Veronica didn’t ask why. She already knew. All the witnesses reported seeing only two figures in the front seat of the vehicle. If they didn’t find anything then their only hope was Paul Chase back at the Impound Yard. Maybe, he’d find something that could explain how the vehicle navigated these roads with a dead man at the wheel.

  JULIE

  The door to Alex’s bedroom opened and a tall woman entered. She had a mane of long black hair that hung loosely about a lovely face with sharp eyebrows that gave her an intimidating look. She removed her jacket, revealing a set of very broad shoulders and very muscular biceps. Moving over to the side of the bed she leaned over to check on the sleeping form.

  Alex stirred and opened his eyes, “Blimey, she really meant it when she said she’d bring you home. Did she remember the oil?”

  The woman stared at him for a moment then spoke in a surprisingly soft voice, “I thought I was just supposed to keep an eye on you. I didn’t realize you needed a massage.”

  “Actually the two of you were supposed to oil wrestle while I got to watch,” he told her.

  The girl’s eyes grew wide at this, “Wow! This gig is sounding better and better.” Then she added, “But you only get to watch, she’s mine for the duration of the match and I get to do whatever I want with her. You can have her back after I leave.

  “Sounds fair,” Alex grinned, “Just don’t exhaust her too much.”

  “Why?” asked the brunette playfully, “From what I hear, you’re not up to much, Mister. Besides I’d finally get a chance at my all-time fantasy, rolling around in a sexy match with my BFF.”

  Nodding Alex smiled. He could actually feel the pain Julie was hiding. Being a powerful empath was one of the talents he’d never been able to close off, in spite of his best efforts. But there were times like now when he was glad he had failed. For along with the pain came images from the past.

  Julie’s last relationship had ended in violence and blood three years earlier. And it had left her with a broken heart along with a nasty scar on her back from where a knife had been plunged into it. The old wound still caused her pain from time to time and this was one of those times.

  “That spot on your back still bothering you?” he asked gently.

  Julie turned to him in amazement. “I don’t know how you do it,” she said shaking her head, “But, yeah it is.”

  Now he sensed another emotion from his companion, longing. Julie had never been the same after that night. She had become so wary of being hurt again, she refused to date or allow any potential girlfriends to get too close. Instead, she enjoyed the company of her friends and satisfied her sexual needs wrestling other women in front of the cameras. Occasionally she might take an opponent home for a night of mutual satisfaction, but nothing more.

  “You know,” Julie said with a smile, “this is kind of a reminds me of what happened three years ago. Only our roles are reversed.”

  “You mean when I kept coming to visit you in the hospital after…”

  “After my ‘break-up’ with Allison,” she nodded. “Did you know I blamed you for that?”

  This was news to Alex. “Seriously!”

  Julie nodded, “I took up with Allison after Ronnie started dating you and I realized that I’d never stood a chance with her in the first place. So when things went bad, a part of me felt like it was all your fault. That was why I was such a bitch to you at first.”

  Alex didn’t know what to say. Luckily Julie went on. “But then you kept coming to visit me every day and you even got me to laugh when I thought I’d never smile again.”

  “My very existence has that effect on a lot of people,” he told her.

  She tried not to laugh too hard at that. “Seriously, you really did help me. Did I ever say thank you?”

  “To be honest, I don’t remember,” he shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “It does to me,” she said honestly, “thanks.”

  “My pleasure,” he nodded.

  “Good,” Julie smile and straightened up. “Now, Ronnie sounded pretty worried when she called. She said you collapsed. How are you feeling now?”

  “Full of beans,” Alex replied trying to sit up, eventually he succeeded. “I really don’t need anyone to keep an… eye… on…” his voice trailed off.

  Julie had folded her muscular arms over a very ample bosom and said matter-of-factly, “You do realize you’re talking to someone who’s studied sports injuries and what can cause them, right?”

  “And that same person is currently working on her Physical Therapy License as I recall. How is that coming along?” he asked.

  “I got it last year, remember? You were there for the ceremony. And changing the subject ain’t gonna work.”

  “Bugger!”

  “Ronnie told me not to leave you alone until she got back. And, you’re not getting out of that bed for anything except to go use the toilet.”

  Alex’s eyes darted from one side to the other, looking for a way out. “Was the use of force discussed?”

  “Yes.”

  “No injuring the patient, right?”
he asked hopefully

  Julie flexed her biceps as she replied, “Nothing permanent or anything that would interfere with her personal enjoyment.”

  “Well, thank God for that,” he muttered.

  “But I am allowed to make your legs into a pretzel,” she smiled.

  He stared at her impressive physique uneasily.

  “So what’s it going to be?” she smiled evilly, “A-stay put, B-pretzel legs, C-take a nap, or D which is a surprise and not a pleasant one.”

  “Can I use a life-line? I’d like to phone a friend,” was Alex’s reply.

  “I am a friend.”

  “Good point,” he nodded. “What do you think I should do?”

  Julie whispered conspiratorially, “Stay put and do as you’re told. I hear the girl watching you can be a real bitch.”

  “Nah… She’s quite sweet actually.”

  “Hey, don’t be spreading rumors about me,” she complained with a laugh. “Well, your brain seems to be intact. Would you like me to give you a massage?”

  “Therapeutic or the fun kin...” he began, only to be hit with a pillow.

  “Regular!” Julie replied dropping the pillow, “God, I can see you’re going to be handful. Now seriously, do you want anything?”

  “A cup of tea?” he replied hopefully.

  “Tea for two coming up,” she told him, and headed for the door.

  “Julie?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thanks for coming over,” he told her warmly.

  “My pleasure,” she smiled and started towards to the kitchen. “By the way, what happened exactly? Ronnie said you collapsed. Where did it happen?” she called out.

  “At the Morgue.”

  “THE MORGUE?” he heard her cry and a moment later she reappeared in the doorway, “What were you doing there?”

  Seeing the look of concern on her face, Alex decided to be himself, “Looking for fresh sex toys. You see we took up necrophilia a while ago and…” his voice trailed off.

  Julie had folded her arms again. “Are you seriously telling me, that you have to take your girlfriend to the Morgue so you could give her a ‘Stiffy’?”

  Alex stared at her in silence, knowing there was no way he was going to top a comment like that.

  Meanwhile, Julie continued, “Seriously, what were you doing there?”

  “I’ll tell you once the tea’s ready,” Alex sighed, “It might do me some good to talk about it.”

  His nurse nodded and went back to the kitchen.

  A few minutes later, she returned with a tray complete with sugar, milk, two cups and the pot of tea. Then she sat down and waited expectantly.

  Alex knew better than to keep her waiting so he immediately launched into his story, starting with Veronica’s arrival at the bar. Glossing over the lovemaking session he reached the part about the call from the station when she suddenly stood up and began pacing back and forth.

  “Julie, what is it?” he asked carefully.

  “The coroner said both the driver and passenger were already dead?” she asked without breaking her stride.

  “Since last night,” he told her.

  “Oh my God…” she gasped bringing her hands to her face.

  Forgetting his promise, Alex got out of bed and put an arm around her shoulders. He was about to ask what was wrong when an image appeared in his mind. “You saw them?” he breathed.

  Julie shivered and nodded, “They nearly ran me down this morning.”

  the impound lot

  At the Impound Yard, a middle aged man was going over the vehicle under discussion. Paul Chase had worked on vehicles since he was eight when his dad first handed him a wrench. Since then he had worked on cars, trucks, motorcycles, limousines… the works. He knew every part and square inch of most vehicles, including this model, and so far he had found nothing. No hidden switches or alterations to the wiring. Everything was as it should be.

  He stood back and scratched his salt and pepper covered head. According to Ronnie and the Medical Examiner, the driver and passenger had been dead for almost ten hours. Two dark muddy patches on the front seat marked where the victims had been found. And there was more all over the gas and brake pedals. Chase took samples and set them aside for the lab to analyze, then stepped away from the vehicle to get some fresh air. Wherever the victims had drowned, it had a nasty smell attached to it. The entire vehicle reeked of something foul besides death.

  This whole thing was starting to get on his nerves. Cars didn’t drive by themselves with or without dead people in them. Yet this one had been seen maneuvering curves at high speeds for miles.

  He glanced around the yard nervously. Ever since the wreck had been brought into the yard, he’d had the feeling of being watched. Even now he felt like someone was watching him.

  At that moment Ronnie’s voice came out of the radio in his workshop a few yards away, making him jump. “Chase, you there?”

  Shaking his head the mechanic went to answer, unaware of the eyes staring at him from one of the back seat windows of the wreck. At the bottom of that same door water began to drip. It formed a small puddle which slowly began to grow and stretch as if to follow him.

  In the workshop, Chase picked up the mike and replied, “I’m here, Sarge. You just had to send me a puzzle, didn’t you?”

  “So you haven’t found anything yet?” he could hear the smirk in her voice.

  “Nothing but an overwhelming stench that won’t quit,” he told her. “Everything is exactly where it’s supposed to be. There’re no secret black boxes or anything like that.”

  “Cars don’t have flight recorders, Chase.”

  “Then you haven’t heard about the mysterious black boxes that allow someone to take control of vehicles from a distance,” he teased.

  “No I hadn’t,” admitted Ronnie. “Maybe it’s disguised as an ordinary car part, so you won’t recognize it?”

  “Honey, I’ve found drugs, booze, stolen items, etc. in vehicles. Believe me. I’d know if something wasn’t what it was supposed to be,” Chase replied making a face. Was it his imagination or was that smell starting to seep in here?

  Back at the scene of the accident Ronnie rolled her eyes. “If you’re so smart, Paul, how come you can’t tell when a superior officer is your coworker not your ‘Honey’?”

  “Aw don’t be like that Sarge, you know I loves ya,” was Chase’s reply.

  Ryan grabbed the microphone from his partner and said, “What about me, Chase? Do you love me too?”

  “Not since you broke my heart you bastard.”

  “When did I do that?”

  “When that ‘69 Camaro you had got trashed,” Chase replied with annoyance. “I told you I wanted to buy it. But you said no. Then some kid goes and steals it and hits a tree.”

  Veronica looked at her partner and shook her head, “A cop who gets his car stolen and totaled? I may have to trade you in.”

  Ryan gave her a hurt look. But, before he could say anything, a new voice came over the radio. “I’ll trade all of you in if you don’t get back to work.”

  Ronnie smiled and replied, “Must be a slow day if you’re checking up on us, Roy.”

  “Actually I’m in the middle of an important meeting,” her boss replied stiffly.

  “But you accidentally pushed something against the radio button and left it on?” she smiled.

  The voice of Alice Peterson could be heard in the background, “She got you there, dear.”

  All three officers were about to lose it when their chief’s warning came over their respective speakers. “Anyone caught laughing or snickering will be on Crossing Guard duty for a month.”

  Silence reigned.

  “By the way Ronnie,” their boss continued, “I just got a call from your other half, he found another eyewitness to that vehicle that crashed this morning.”

  Veronica frowned. How the hell could Alex have found out anything? He was supposed to be resting.

  “Seems the
young lady you sent over to keep an eye on him was nearly run down by a vehicle that fit the description. She also saw someone in the backseat.”

  “Are we sure it’s the same car?” Ronnie asked quickly.

  “That’s what we’re waiting to find out,” replied Roy. “She’s coming here right now. I’d like you to talk to her.”

  “I’m on my way,” she told him. “Chase, did you get all that?”

  Back at the Impound Yard Paul replied, “Sure did. I’ll take a look in the backseat and get back to you, as soon as I’m done.”

  “Copy that,” Ronnie replied and signed off.

  As he put the microphone back on the radio, Paul sniffed the air, the stench seemed to be getting worse. He checked his hands and the bottoms of his feet but could not find the source.

  Looking out at the wreck he did a double take. There was water trickling out one of the backseat doors. “I think we might be on to something,” he murmured then froze. For a moment, he thought he saw movement in the window of the backseat.

  Within seconds he was at the wreck and pulling open the door. Immediately he was assaulted by the powerful smell, only it was much worse now. Covering his mouth with a rag he stuck his head inside the vehicle. The backseat was empty but someone had been there. A damp patch, similar to the ones on the front seat, was clearly visible. Then he spotted something dark, coiled up in a puddle on the floorboard. It looked like a rope. Still covering his mouth and nose he knelt down to get a better look.

  Julie had just arrived at the police station and was getting out of her vehicle when she spotted her friend’s motorcycle coming into the lot. So she waited until Ronnie had parked and then called out to her.

  But instead of having her greeting returned, her friend shouted angrily, “Why didn’t you tell me that you were nearly run down this morning?”

  Before Julie could think of a reply, Ronnie had her helmet off and was marching over to her saying, “I have a wrecked car with two dead teenagers in the front seat, who drowned sometime last night. And now I find out my best friend was nearly run over by them, only she didn’t bother to tell me about it.”