Page 18

Angus hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair. Beside him, Franks sat at his desk, digging through Mel Wickman's information. "The casino has facial recognition software that will make finding video of Dawn and Mel easier. I'm emailing them photos and they'll run it through their system. They're insisting on a warrant just for their own legal reasons but are cooperating. Once they have the warrant in hand, they'll send us all the videos of Dawn and Mel that they have. Even offered to search the parking lot for their car if we can send information on the make, model, and license plate. That will help us build a timeline of when they left the casino."

Franks looked up from his computer. "We don't have to run out there and search the video ourselves?"

"Nope, but they said we're welcome to if we want." Angus laughed. "As if we have the time."

"Right. Guess we can be thankful for technology. I'd expect that type of tech in Vegas, but not from a reservation casino." Franks took a drink of coffee, then set his cup down. "Mel Wickman is forty years old. He left the Army ten years ago and got a job here with the mayor's security team. He's worked with several mayors over the years and worked his way to lead. Police were called to his home for a domestic issue three years ago, but no charges were handed out. I've pulled the case number so we can look into that. He drives a newer model Mustang, yellow in color." Franks smiled.

"Just like the paint they found on the body." Angus grinned.

"Want to bet if we go look for the car today, it's not around or it has some front-end damage?" Franks tapped a few keys on the keyboard. "Not surprising is that out of the twenty-two cameras along that stretch of highway, only seven are operating. I've requested the video from those. Unlike your casino, we're going to have to go through that video on our own."

"What about the rest stop?" Angus asked.

"I've requested the video there as well. Supposedly, all cameras there are operating. We should have the requested videos by noon." Franks stood and went to the coffee pot.

Angus glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly ten. "Lance should be finishing up the autopsy soon. Hopefully, that will give us even more to work with. Of course, we'll have to wait on lab work there, but it will give us an idea of what evidence he found that we can use. I had no issue getting warrants for the casino video. As badly as I want to head over to the mayor's office right now and arrest this guy or at least see if he's driving a damaged car, I think we're better to wait for the autopsy to finish."

"Agreed." Franks sat down with a fresh cup of coffee. "The idiot has to know the police will be looking for him."

"You'd think. Maybe he's just that cocky. It sounds like they didn't talk about their relationship at work, so perhaps he thinks no one knows about them. We need to ask Dawn about that the next time she's around." Angus wondered if she had shown up for her autopsy. "In fact, while we're waiting for the videos to come in, why don't we head over to the morgue and see what Lance has found? We can grab lunch on the way back and eat while we go through those videos."

"You're driving." Franks downed his coffee and pushed back from his desk.

"Not a problem." Angus gathered his things and stood. "You excited to get the cat tonight?"

Franks sighed. "I stayed up half the night reading shit on the internet on how to care for a cat. I get the feeling it will be up to the damn cat what I'm supposed to do. Some cats want a ton of attention, some don't. Some like wet food, others want dry. I don't know what I'm getting into."

"Dawn had both wet and dry food, so I assume Pixie will eat both. Dawn's still around to ask if you have questions. The cat's used to being alone all day since Dawn works. I think she'll be just fine. You just need to decide where to put the litter box and set up her tower."

"I'll put the tower in the living room, since I spend a lot of time in there. I might get another for the basement. I'll see. As for the litter box, I have no idea. Maybe the laundry room. It's the one room where guests don't go."

"As if you have so many visitors," Angus teased.

"That could change," Franks said. "I'm thinking about asking Gretta out. I just don't know if that's smart since we work with her sister. Besides, she just got divorced. I'm not sure she's going to want to jump into dating right away."

"Gretta, really?" Angus nodded as they stepped outside. "Yeah, I could see that. I like her."

"Don't go telling Lance so that he tells her. I'm still thinking about it. I want her to have time to adjust to the move and get settled." Franks shook his head. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone. I think it's a great idea. And I don't think you should wait. She's been here a few weeks. Take her out and show her around. Take her to some of the best places to eat. You don't have to get serious quickly. Just be her friend and see where things go. She's probably nervous about dating. She was married for a while. It's been a long time since she's dated."

"That makes me even more nervous. If things go badly, I could make her even more timid about dating." Franks got into the car as soon as Angus unlocked it .

"I think if you go at this as friends at first, you'll both be fine. Just offer to take her out and show her around. There are some great concerts in the park right now. And there's that new rib place that just opened that everyone is raving about." Angus started the car. "As for Amy, I think she'll be happy to see her sister going out with someone she trusts. Unless you and Gretta have a huge fight, I don't think Amy will mind at all."

"It's not like I plan on a big fight, but you know how relationships can be." Franks leaned his head back. "I shouldn't have said anything. It's still just something I'm thinking about."

"Like I said, I won't push you and I won't tell anyone you're thinking about it. But when you decide to take the leap, you have my full support." Angus was going to have a hard time not talking to Lance about this, but he'd promised, and he'd keep that promise no matter how tough it was. He was just glad Franks was taking an interest in someone.

"You don't think she's too young?" Franks asked.

"Not at all. Sure, you're a bit older than her, but does it matter? It's not as if she's straight out of college and still looking for what she wants to do with her life. She's been married and lived life a little. She's probably mentally older than both of us due to what she's gone through. From what I hear, you're the opposite of her husband. I think that will make a huge difference. She's been arm candy for years. I'm sure she just wants to sit back now and have fun and enjoy life a little without worrying who she needs to impress." Angus smiled. "You must really like her to be overthinking it this much."

"I hardly know her," Franks grumbled. "Anyway, enough about that. Back to the cat. Do you think I should run by the pet store and get her more toys? My house is a lot bigger than Dawn's apartment."

"I'm betting you could steal a few empty file boxes from work and make the cat happier than buying anything at the store would. From what I know about cats, they ignore expensive toys and go for the boxes and simple things we leave around the house. Give it a few days and see how often she plays with the toys she's already got. And put the cat tree by a window so the cat can look out and get sunlight."

"Am I okay to change vets? I was thinking about going to see that guy Carrie is dating," Franks said.

"I don't see why not. Unless the cat has issues that the current vet deals with, it shouldn't matter. Again, we'll have Lance ask Dawn about that. You going to change her name?" Angus asked.

"Nah, she's used to it. I'm not fond of Pixie, but I don't mind Pix so I might just use that." Franks looked at his phone. "Highway camera video is in."

"Good, we'll have something to do while we eat." Angus parked in the lot of the Medical Examiner's Office. "We won't stay here long."

They walked into the office and Franks approached the front desk. "Morning, Gretta. How's your day?"

She glanced up and smiled. "Not bad. I'm guessing you two are here to see Lance?" She stood and handed them the sign in log.

"Is he still in autopsy?" Angus asked.

"He is, but they should be done soon." Gretta hit the button that unlocked the half door that would allow them access to the back. "You can wait in his office."

"Actually, we're going to head up to the viewing room. We have questions about the current autopsy." Angus pushed the door open.

"Thanks." Franks gave her a smile before following Angus.

They went up one flight of stairs, bypassed the first viewing room, and headed to the second. As expected, Lance was standing over Dawn's body, talking to Brayden about something so softly that Angus couldn't hear.

"Morning. Tell us you have good news," Franks said as he stepped closer to the window.

Carrie jumped at the sound of Franks' voice and turned to glare at him. "Warn a girl next time."

Franks winked.

"Morning. Yes, I have quite a bit that might help you. I'll be done in a few if you want to wait and discuss it in my office. That will be easier for all of us." Lance looked up at Angus, then over to a spot that appeared empty beside Lance, but Angus was sure that was where Dawn was standing. Whatever Lance wanted to discuss, he wanted Dawn there too.

"Sure, we can wait a bit." Angus took a seat near the window. He didn't focus on the body much. He'd seen enough death it seldom bothered him anymore, but he still found the act of watching someone cut into a human body a bit unnerving.

"Franks is getting himself a cat tonight. In fact, it belonged to Dawn." Lance gestured to the body. "There's no one to take her cat, so Franks is going to adopt her."

"That's fantastic." Carrie glanced up at Franks. "You have any other pets?"

"This will be my first." Franks smiled. "And last. Don't go getting any ideas that I need more." He tossed a glare at Angus.

"You'll love having a cat. I have several. They're so easy to care for. As long as you feed and water them, they'll take care of themselves. But they seem to know when you've had a bad day and need a little extra love." Carrie paused to write something on a clipboard. "You know I'm dating a vet, right? If you need anything, just let me know."

"I will. I might have a million questions." Franks shook his head. "I can't believe you guys talked me into this."

"It's going to change your life for the better. I don't know how people can survive without a pet in their lives. I keep telling Lance that he should get another dog so that Haunt has someone to play with." Carrie looked at Brayden. "I'm trying to convince him to adopt a cat or dog as well."

"I'd love to, but my apartment doesn't allow them. Let me get a house and I'll be right on that. I had dogs growing up and miss them." Brayden shrugged. " In a few years, I'll be settled enough to get a couple of dogs."

"How old's the cat?" Carrie asked Franks.

Franks didn't answer, but Angus saw Lance glance over to where he assumed the ghost had to be.

"Pix is four," Lance told them.

"How do you know that?" Carrie looked at him in shock.

"I overheard it last night from Dawn's best friend," Lance lied.

"Still young. You'll have a good ten years with the cat hopefully." Carrie looked up at Franks.

"Don't remind me what a commitment this is. I'm nervous enough. What if the cat hates me?" Franks asked.

Angus listened to Carrie and Franks discuss the cat for a few minutes more, then stood when Lance told Carrie and Brayden to finish up and put the body away.

"I'll meet you two in my office." Lance looked up at the window. "You'll beat me there. I need to make a pitstop."

Angus waved before turning and heading down the stairs, through the hallway, and to Lance's office. He pushed the door open and let Franks take the seat in front of Lance's desk. He chose to lean against the filing cabinet. "We timed that pretty well."

"We did. I'm just hoping he found something that will help tie Mel Wickman to her murder. We need to pick him up today, preferably for more than just questioning." Franks leaned forward and rested his head on his arms. "I'm so tired."

"We'll get you food and caffeine as soon as we leave." Angus heard footsteps coming down the hall. A moment later, Lance entered, shut the door, and stepped straight into Angus's arms for a hug and gentle kiss.

"I love when you come to visit during the day." Lance pulled back and went to sit behind his desk.

"So do I. I could have called for the information. Figured it was better to come see you in person," Angus told him.

"Enough with the lovebird shit. Tell us you have some solid evidence we can use in Dawn's case." Franks sat up straight and stretched his arms behind his head.

"Semen sample good enough?" Lance asked.

"Seriously? He left semen?" Franks glanced at Angus, then back at Lance.

"Doesn't appear he used a condom. Dawn didn't notice one way or the other. She was in shock and too busy fighting him off," Lance informed them. "There is also yellow paint. At least it appears to be paint. There was some on her clothing and more on her skin. I sent it off to the lab to be analyzed. There was bruising along the side of her face looking as if she'd been hit, and bruising on her arms that I'd say came from someone holding her tightly." He wrapped his hand around his upper arm to give them an example. "The cause of death in layman's terms was from a skull fracture and brain injury. She didn't suffer long after he hit her. She says she doesn't remember anything after flying through the air. I'm guessing she hit her head while landing and it killed her instantly."

"No fancy car emblem bruising on her legs?" Franks asked.

"You watch too much TV." Lance grinned at him. "There was bruising on the back of her legs where he hit her. That's where we found the paint, but nothing more that might help you identify the car unless you go by her height and the car's bumper. The car will certainly have been damaged. He hit her hard."

"How long will the semen results take?" Angus already knew the answer but hoped Lance would tell him different.

"Weeks." Lance gave a sympathetic shrug. "You know how backlogged the lab is. Even putting a rush on it won't get you answers any time soon."

"Nothing is ever easy." Franks sighed. "Looks like we have to prove he was with her when they left the casino."

"That means our afternoon is going to be spent going through surveillance video." Angus met Lance's stare across the desk. "That probably means I won't be home on time."

"Aren't you picking up the cat tonight?" Lance asked Franks.

"Yeah, I still plan on doing that. Sierra said anytime." Franks looked around the office. "Is Dawn here?"

"She is. She's standing with Jeremy just by the door." Lance motioned with his pen .

"Can she tell me if the cat has any medical concerns or if I need to keep using the same vet?" Franks asked.

Lance looked at the door then nodded. "She said that she only took the cat in to have her fixed right after she got her. Other than that, the cat hasn't been in to the vet at all. You should be fine picking your own vet."

Franks nodded. "Good to know. And anything the cat doesn't like or must have?"

"She likes soft cat food more than hard but will eat either. She loves catnip. There's some of that along with the treats she likes in the cupboard with the canned cat food," Lance told him. "She also says that she let her sleep on her bed with her, so don't be surprised if she wants to be in your room at night. She'll curl up by your legs if you'll let her."

Franks shrugged. "I don't mind, but we'll see how it works. I'm all over the bed when I sleep. She might not like that." He stood. "That's all I needed to know. I'll give you two a minute alone. Meet you out front." Franks opened the door and stepped out.

Angus smiled. "He's nervous about the cat."

"I get it. It's a big change, but I think it will be good for him." Lance stood. "I've got to get back to work. I want to get another done before I break for lunch. You go look through your video and give me a call later. I figure we've got leftover chicken we can eat unless you want something else."

"No, I'll be late. That will work for me." Angus pulled him close. "I'll try not to be too late." He nuzzled his nose along Lance's neck. "I'd promise to make it up to you this weekend, but we both know I probably won't be able to keep that promise."

"It's okay. I know you're busy. Go save the world. I'll be waiting for you when you're done." Lance kissed him. "I love you. Don't forget that."

"Never. You don't forget that I love you." He stole one more kiss, then headed out. They both had a ton of work to finish, then hopefully, they could get at least an hour together tonight before going to bed.