Dakota's Way 2 - Laney's Beginning Read online

  "What's up Laney, you figure something out?"

  "No, not really, it's more of a hunch than anything. I want to look at some of the other statues in that case. The two that were stolen are very similar to the one that is still there. Maybe they came from the same place."

  "Well, then let's go check it out. You're hunches have been pretty accurate so far."

  Randi was just finishing up with a customer when Laney and Koty walked through the door. A small frown creased her lips at the sight of Laney walking up to her.

  Randi thought that Laney was one of the most attractive women she had seen in a while, 'well, Laney's partner was pretty hot herself, but they were still cops. And she didn't like cops too much. Not since one had shot and killed her brother just because he was gay, and at the wrong place at the wrong time.

  A guy that her brother had been seeing for only about a month had gotten into an argument with a cop after leaving the club they were at, and pulled a gun on him. The cop beat him to the draw and shot him.

  Her brother Boyd had no idea that his friend even had a gun to start with, and when the officer fired and Boyd tried to catch his lover before he fell, the officer shot him as well. He had stated on record that he thought that Boyd was going for the dropped pistol, and of coarse every one including the Norfolk Police Department believed him.'

  That was over three years ago and Randi still had a problem with cops because they just acted like they were above the law, and people as well. She had some mixed feelings with this detective though. Laney acted like she was really concerned but then again, so doesn't any other cop at first.

  "Hello Detectives, what can I do for you?"

  Noticing the slight frown on Randi's face, Laney cautiously approached her, "Hi Miss Daniels, would it be all right if we took a look at some of the other statues in the case?"

  Randi didn't say anything at first, just held Laney's eyes for a moment then shook her head and blinked. "Um…yea, let me unlock it for you. Since we were robbed, I keep just about everything around here locked up tighter than a gnat's ass." She walked over to the case, unlocked the door and slid it open.

  "Something in particular you're looking for Detective?"

  Laney looked Randi in the eyes momentarily; trying to figure out what the problem was that Randi was trying hard not to show.

  "Did any of these statues here come with the ones that were stolen?"

  "Well, this one here did." She reached in the cabinet for the piece.

  "Why?"

  Laney reached for the statue and took it out of Randi's hands, their fingers brushing in the process. Laney felt like an electrical jolt went through her fingers almost causing her to drop the statue.

  Wide eyed, she just said "sorry." 'I'll think about what that was all about later.' She thought to herself as she rolled the statue over in her hands.

  "Hey Koty, come take a look at this. See how on the bottom here in the middle is two different colors?" Koty nodded her head. "Looks like that its fresh or something, in the middle, like it's just been made."

  "My thoughts exactly, what do you think about that?"

  "Well, I think it's pretty strange considering that this is supposed to be an antique. Shake it Laney."

  Laney shook the statue and could feel something sliding around on the inside of it. "There is something in here Koty do you have your pocket knife on you?"

  "Yeah, here."

  Randi stepped closer. "Hey, you can't just…"

  "Miss Daniels, there is something inside of this and, what ever it is, could tell us what those guys were after."

  Laney started digging into the middle with her eyes wide opened because the knife easily went through. Less than two minutes later, Laney pulled a bag full of powder out of it.

  Randi's jaw dropped. "Holly shit, what in the hell is that?"

  Koty took the bag out of Laney's hands and opened it to smell the contents and dipped her fingernail in the bag then brought it to her mouth to taste it.

  "Heroin."

  Laney looked over at Randi's startled expression. "Miss Daniels, do you keep records of the things that you get in here?"

  "Uh…yeah…I…I keep everything documented in my notebook behind the counter. Jesus, is that what they were after?"

  "I would imagine so. Let's take a look at that notebook of yours."

  Randi went through the notebook for a minute and pointed at it. "Mrs. Willard brought these to me saying that she was cleaning out her shed again. She goes to a lot of yard sales, and after a while she realizes that she really doesn't have a place for some of the things that she gets, so she brings them to me. You don't think…"

  "Does this Mrs. Willard have an address ma'am?" Koty asked while she pulled out a little notebook.

  "Yeah, she lives over on Sullivan Ave. This is her address right here."

  "What else did she bring you with this batch of stuff besides this piece here, and of course the other two?" Laney asked as she set the statue on the counter.

  "Just the two that they got oh and that end table right over there."

  "Koty, call the captain and have him send the boy's over here to get this stuff. As soon as they get here, you and I need to go pay a visit to this Mrs. Willard..."

  ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗

  "Hi. Mrs. Willard? I am Detective Jacobs, and this is my partner Detective Silvers." Laney told the older woman, and they flashed their badges. "Can we come in and ask you a couple of questions ma'am?"

  "Well…I guess so. What's this got to do with detectives?"

  "Actually ma'am it's about some statues that you took to The 'Old Past' Antique Shop."

  "Well all right, come on in. Can I get you something to drink?"

  "No thank you, and we'll only take a few minutes of your time."

  'Jesus, it looks like maybe she should take a few more things over to that store. You can hardly move in here.' Laney thought as she sat down in the chair Mrs. Willard pointed at.

  "Mrs. Willard, you took some oriental statues to the Antique Store, and we need to know where they came from. Do you remember which ones I'm talking about? There were three of them all together and also an end table."

  "Well, the end table I got from a yard sale a couple of months ago. The statues, I really don't remember where I got them from. I don't even remember picking them up anywhere, but sometimes I forget. My memory isn't what it used to be you know, I'm 75 years old. Could I get you young ladies some tea or something?"

  "No thank you ma'am." Koty said with a smile.

  "I just remember seeing them in my garage and thought that they were really kind of ugly. I can't imagine myself buying them. Anyway, them being ugly and all I just took them with that old table. Was there something wrong with them?"

  Laney held back the smile that almost slipped out. 'Geeze, they were ugly weren't they'

  "Someone robbed the antique store and took two of the statues; the one that they didn't get had some drugs stashed inside of it. They shot one of the women there and assaulted the other." Laney told her as she propped her elbows on her knees.

  "Oh my goodness!" Mrs. Willard said bringing her hand to her heart. "Are those young ladies all right? They are always so nice to me when I go there. Giving me more money than those old things are worth I'm sure. Why would somebody hurt those girls, and how did drugs get inside of them I wonder?"

  "Well, that's what we are trying to find out ma'am. If you remember where you might have gotten them from, could you please give me a call?" Laney stood and handed the old woman her business card.

  "Why yes, I sure will detective. I wonder if those statues are what my grandson was looking for last week. Oh my, come to think of it, he did ask about some statues."

  "Where is your grandson at now Mrs. Willard and what is his name?" Koty asked looking at Laney.

  "Well, it's Tommy, Tommy Willard. He doesn't live here he just comes by about twice a month to take my dry cleaning in for me, and to take me to the grocery store. He stays with a fri
end of his at the Bottoms Apartments in Norfolk."

  "Do you have an address for him Mrs. Willard?"

  "No, can't say that I do, but I do have a phone number if that might help you Detective. Let me just go get my purse. Are you sure you young ladies wouldn't want something cold to drink?"

  "Quite sure Mrs. Willard, thank you though."

  "Koty, I can get Reba at the station to get an address to go with this phone number here, and then we can go check it out." Laney said as the older woman went down the hall to retrieve her purse.

  Mrs. Willard had giving them her grandsons phone number, and they left directly after that. Koty smirked. "You could get Reba to do anything that you asked cause she's got the hots for you."

  "Stop Silvers." Laney laughed as she slapped Koty's shoulder. "I don't know why you tease me like that."

  "I'm not teasing Laney, she does have the hots for you, and she's really cute."

  "Just shut up and drive Koty." 'She is kind of cute though. Shit! What am I thinking? Maybe I need a vacation already.'

  "By the way, I thought about going to see a movie this weekend. You think that maybe you and Kasey might want to come? I thought about asking Jamie and Trish also."

  "Well, I need to check for sure with Kasey, but I can't think of a reason that she wouldn't want to go. What do you plan on seeing?"

  "I'm not sure yet, I just thought about it this morning."

  "Sounds good to me but like I said, I need to check with the boss lady..."

  Chapter Three

  The following Tuesday morning found Laney and Koty at the Bottoms Apartments on the south side of Norfolk. Putting the vehicle in park, they sat there momentarily looking at all the trash and broken bottles that littered the parking lot.

  "My, what a beautiful place to live," Laney mumbled getting out of the car and shutting the door. "I'm glad we didn't bring your jag Koty. I would seriously have problems leaving it for more than twenty seconds."

  "I hear you. Though, I don't think that I would even trust leaving a rust bucket here. Oh well, what do you say we go and knock on Mr. Willard's door, and see if he's at home?"

  "Lets."

  The hallway that divided the four apartments was even more littered than the parking lot. They had to step over boxes and beer bottles to reach the door to 107.

  "Christ, what a pigsty. Well here goes," Koty said as she loudly knocked on the door. "Come on bastard, answer the door." After a moment Koty knocked again. Nothing.

  "Come on Laney, let's go find some of my contacts and see if we can dig up anything on Walters. We need to get a search warrant."

  The detectives were unable to find out much more than they already knew. Deciding to give up for the day and trying again tomorrow, Koty had told Laney that there were a couple more people she could check with later.

  As they went to turn on Virginia Beach Blvd. from Newtown Road, Koty heard a low rumble, and turned to face Laney. Dropping her blue eyes to the detectives stomach, Koty laughed, "Oh boy, the beast is awake."

  Laney swatted Koty's arm, but grinned. "I told you, I am so hungry all the time. Before long, they're going to have to widen the station doors so I can fit through them."

  Koty snorted, and glanced her way. "Maybe you got worms. Hee hee, I think I'll just start calling you 'Worms' for now on."

  "You do that Silvers, and I'll just have to start calling you pussy whipped," Laney grinned.

  "I...I am not! I don't believe you just said that."

  "Yes you are."

  "Am not." Koty laughed as she pulled up to a stop light.

  "Well...maybe a little."

  "A lot."

  "Bite me."

  "Let's go to Golden Coral for lunch, you're buying Silvers."

  "Man, you are so abusive."

  Chapter Four

  Laney stepped out of the shower, and pulled the soft robe around her long solid frame. Padding to the kitchen to get a wine glass, and the bottle of wine from the fridge, she decided that it was time that she started to look for a house. Her apartment was nice, but too small for her taste.

  She knew she didn't need anything huge by all means, but she needed an office larger than the spare bedroom here allowed. A fireplace would definitely be nice. Oh yeah, a huge whirlpool bathtub. One that could easily fit her 6' frame.

  The detective sat on the thick soft cushions of the long couch, and propped her feet on the coffee table. Reaching for the bottle of wine that was sitting on the end table, she poured herself a full glass.

  "Mmm. Oh God that, taste good." Laney leaned back and, turned the TV on the Disney Channel. 'That's So Raven', one of her favorites had just started. Closing her eyes during a commercial suddenly, emerald eyes flashed through her mind.

  Her eyes popped open, and the green disappeared. 'Jesus, what is with that?' The detective couldn't figure out why this woman's eyes just kept, seeming to appear at the oddest times.

  Three more glasses of wine, then Laney stood, and turned the TV off. She went to the kitchen to put the wine back into the fridge, and shut the light out.

  In her bedroom she removed the robe, and tossed it on the foot of the bed then climbed under the cool sheets. Sleep over took her before she had much time to think any more about those green eyes...

  ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗

  Koty and Kasey were snuggled up on the couch watching 'The Seventh Sign', when the phone rang and made them both jump. Kasey reached for the offending object with a nervous laugh and answered. "Hello?"

  "Kasey? Are you ok?"

  Chris asked as she heard Kasey's voice. "Chris, hi. Um yes I'm ok. We were in the middle of a scary movie, and when the phone rang it scared the shit out of us."

  "Ha! Did I make Koty jump? The big sissy. Anyway, Monty and I want to stop by for a minute, we have something to tell the two of you."

  "Well ok Chris, is there something wrong?"

  "No. Everything is ok, we'll be there in ten minutes so don't go anywhere."

  Kasey went to ask another question, but Chris had already hung up the phone, and all Kasey got was the dial tone.

  Koty pulled Kasey to her, and kissed her cheek. "Was that my lovely sister-in-law?"

  "Yes. She and Monty are on their way over. She said that they have something to tell us, and wouldn't give me a clue as to what it was."

  Kasey stood then rubbed Koty's shoulder. "I'm going to get me something to drink Honey; do you want me to fix you a drink?"

  "No Baby, just bring me some Dr. Pepper."

  Kasey smiled to herself as she walked into the kitchen. Koty hadn't exactly quit drinking, but she now limited it to going out, or if company came over on the weekend. This was quite a feat in itself. The detective was on a downhill slide before she and Kasey got back together and it was devastating to watch when she knew that she was a part of the reason.

  "Here you go Hon you may as well stop the movie for now until they get here."

  With that said, the doorbell rang, and Kasey walked over to open the door. Chris gave Kasey a kiss on the cheek, and bounced through the door.

  'Bouncing? Oh boy.'

  Monty hugged Kasey as well then followed his wife into the living room. Koty stood, and hugged Chris. Koty looked at her flushed face, and huge smile. "Geeze Chris, did you swallow a canary or what?" Koty asked as she sat her glass on the table.

  "As a matter of fact Aunt Dakota, I did swallow the canary."

  "Aunt? What the hell, you have to be...Oh my God." Koty squeaked as she unceremoniously plopped back on the couch.

  Kasey screamed then threw her arms around her best friends' neck. "Oh my God Chris, when did you find this out?"

  "We just found out for sure about two hours ago."

  "And what, you're just now telling us?" Kasey laughed.

  "Well, I did have to wait until Monty came home for me to tell him."

  "Kasey, go pop the cork on that bottle of 1990 Krug Brut Champagne that you picked up last week. I imagine this is worth it," Koty said when she was fin
ally able to speak again.

  Kasey smiled inwardly, as she had just thought about Koty's drinking. 'Well, this is definitely worth it. Oh my God, we're going to be aunts!'

  Koty walked over to her twin brother, and hugged him tight with tears in her eyes. "Damn Bro, I am so happy for you guys." Monty hugged his sister back with a hint of tears in his eyes as well.

  "Oh man, how did this happen?"

  A dark brow lifted into Monty's bangs. "Shit, I know how it happened, I mean...oh never mind"

  "Ok folks, champagne time, Kasey said as they all heard a pop from the cork as it hit the ceiling.

  Chapter Five

  "Hold on would you!" Koty yelled as she wrapped the robe around her naked body, and looked through the peep hole of her door.

  "What the...Laney?" Koty pulled open the door.

  "What's the matter; it's one in the morning?"

  "Evelyn Willard just called me. Her grandson is at her home passed out. Evidently, he came to her busted up pretty bad. She said he wasn't making any sense. I'm going over there now, and thought maybe..."

  "Yeah, just let me go get some damn clothes on."

  Koty was quietly pulling on a pair of jeans, when she heard Kasey's voice. "Honey, you don't have to be that quiet, I'm awake."

  "I'm sorry Baby, go back to sleep. I've got to run with Laney to pick up a suspect from the antique store."

  Kasey slid her legs off of the bed and padded to the bathroom. When she came out, she slipped on her robe, and walked out into the living room. "Don't you keep my woman out too long Detective?"

  "Kasey, I'm so sorry about waking you guys up."

  "No worries Laney, I'm starting to get used to it."

  At that moment, Koty came around the corner, up behind Kasey, and wrapped her arms around her. "Ok Baby, go back to bed, and I won't be gone too long."

  Kasey turned into her arms, and gave her a light kiss. "Be careful Dakota."

  "Mmm. Bye Baby. Come on Jacobs, let's get this over with."

  Kasey walked to the kitchen to pour herself a shot of brandy. She knew she would not be able to go back to bed until Koty walked back through the door. She remembered back last year when they wheeled the detective into the emergency room after Jamie found her in that burning building, and she had been shot.