As soon as Cassano was out of earshot, T.J. said, “Nice touch about the document case.”
“Just wanted to pucker up his ass.”
“You certainly did.”
Dupree and T.J. walked side-by-side toward their desks. They glanced at each other and spoke one word at exactly the same time.
“Hansen?”
Just then, Captain Jensen doubled-stepped it to Dupree’s desk. “We need to talk.”
Rarely had Dupree seen Jensen so wired. He looked like a junkie two days into rehab.
She picked up her purse.
The captain pointed at T.J. “Why don’t you join us, Detective?”
Dupree and T.J. followed Captain Jensen to his office. Once inside, Jensen closed the door. Dupree spotted John Butler sitting in an armchair. By the stern look on Butler’s face, Dupree knew that the captain hadn’t invited them to his office for afternoon tea.
Jensen nodded toward Butler.
“This little powwow is about the second envelope I received, isn’t it?” Dupree asked.
Butler nodded. “There’s bad news and worse news.”
Dupree, nerves frazzled, almost shouted, “Are you going to keep me in suspense or tell me what the fuck is going on?”
“First,” Butler said, “with the exception of the captain, two FedEx employees, and the FedEx driver, there are no viable fingerprints on the envelope. The small envelope inside was filled with ricin.” He hesitated. “There was also a note.”
“And what did it say?” Dupree asked.
Butler looked at Jensen and he nodded. “For extra flavor, sprinkle some of this on your cat stew.”
Dupree could hardly breathe. It felt as if her lungs were filled with concrete. She glanced at T.J. and his cheeks were flushed red. “Isn’t ricin the poison a few politicians received in the mail?”
“That’s exactly what it is,” Butler said. “One of the most toxic substances on Earth.
Inhaling just a few crystals… well, let’s just say that it’s some nasty shit.”
A lull came over the room.
“Where the hell would some nutcase get their hands on ricin?” Dupree asked.
“Ricin is made from castor beans and the process is very complicated. If you Google, ‘How to make ricin’, you’ll find dozens of instructions, but few, if any, would actually work.
“So, it would appear,” Dupree said, “that whoever sent these envelopes not only wants to mess with my head, they also want to kill me.”
“Why don’t I assign two patrolmen to watch your building,” Jensen said. “One to watch the lobby and the other stationed outside your door.”
“I can handle myself, Captain.”
“This is no time for your ego to cloud your thinking, Amaris,” T.J. said.
“I’ll be okay. Really.”
“Well,” Jensen said, “it’s your call. But if you change your mind or feel threatened in any way, don’t be a hero.”
Dupree and T.J. left Jensen’s office and returned to their desks.
“You’re not going to nag me to accept the captain’s offer, right, T.J.?”
“No guarantees. But I’ll do my best to zip my lips.”
“I keep thinking about the cat stew note,” Dupree said, “trying to figure out if anyone associated with the investigation knows I have cats.”
“Didn’t you mention to Hansen that you had two cats the first time we spoke to her?”
“I think you’re right,” Dupree said. “Let me make a call and see if the warrant to search Hansen’s place is ready to go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Boy,” T.J. said, “is there anything Judge Marshall won’t do for you?”
“I’m sure that someday I’ll find out.”
“What’s the plan?” T.J. asked.
“Let’s swing by the court house, pick up the warrant, and head over to Hansen’s.”
Traffic was congested on their way to Prospect Heights.
“Why don’t you just use the siren and beacon?” T.J. suggested.
“Wouldn’t that be abusing my authority?”
“C’mon, Amaris, it isn’t like you’re lifting some pot from the evidence room.”
“Good point, but—”
“Do you always play by the book?”
“Thus far, I haven’t found a reason not to. But you never know what tomorrow might bring. And remember: I do use my cell when I’m driving.”
Finally, after a grueling ride, Dupree and T.J. arrived at Hansen’s building. She wasn’t sure why, but during the drive, she and T.J. hardly spoke. A noticeable air of tension hovered over them. Under normal circumstances, she might not give this a second thought. But with all they had uncovered over the last couple of days, it seemed that T.J. and she had plenty to discuss. She wanted to let it rest, but an uncontrollable urge got the best of her.
“Talk to me, T.J. What the hell is going on?”
“Did I miss something?”
“Don’t play that game with me,” Dupree said. “It’s been like a morgue in this car for over an hour. I had to check a couple of times to be sure you were still breathing. What gives?”
“Well, you haven’t been much of a conversationalist either,” T.J. shot back.
“I’m really sorry. Guess I’m just a little preoccupied with cat stew and ricin.” Dupree’s voice was a little shaky.
T.J. glanced at her. “Am I an insensitive clod or what? I’m so sorry. I wasn’t even thinking about—”
“You’re not insensitive. But you are a little self-absorbed right now. What is it?”
“I just have a lot on my mind.”
Dupree backed into a parking spot, unbuckled her seatbelt, and turned off the ignition. “Is it Haley?”
“It’s always Haley, Amaris. Thoughts of her…”
She grasped his forearm. “We’re both dealing with a lot of shit right now, but we’re so close on this investigation, we just can’t afford to get distracted.”
“You’re absolutely right,” T.J. agreed. “I know that for a long time I haven’t been much of a partner. You had every right to blow me in to the captain, but you didn’t. You stood by me. I really appreciate that. Then, you finally kicked me square in the ass and woke me up. Haven’t you seen a change in me?”
“Of course I have, T.J. You’ve been right on top of everything.” She squeezed his forearm again. “I just want you to know that you can talk to me. Spill your guts. Dump on me. Tell me what you’re feeling. You talk and I’ll listen. Sometimes it really helps to let it all out. Believe me, I know what it’s like to keep everything bottled up inside, waiting for your head to explode. It’s not a place where I want to be. And I know it’s not a good place for you either.”
Silence again. But a different kind of quiet.
“I guess I’m feeling really guilty,” T.J. admitted.
“About what?”
“I’m finally ready to move on.”
“And by ‘move on’, you mean?”
“I think I can actually leave the past in the past and start living again.”
Dupree could see his eyes glazing over. “That’s not a bad thing, T.J.”
“Haley’s always going to be there, somewhere in my thoughts. I’ll never erase the image of her lying on that bed…”
Dupree knew better than to say anything.
“But I can’t live like this any longer. I don’t want to be haunted by something I can’t change. I have to get beyond this or there’s absolutely no possibility that I’ll ever have a meaningful relationship again.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“You already did.” He reached over and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “Let’s get down to business.”
Dupree was a little stunned by T.J.’s actions. Was it merely a friendly gesture? Or more?
They dodged traffic crossing the street, heading towards Hansen’s building. Once across, Dupree grabbed T.J.’s arm just as they were about to enter. “Something just occurred to me,” Dupree said. “Butler said that the process to make ricin from caster beans was very complicated, right?”