Crossroads Revisited Read Online Free Page A

calling. I hear it
in your voice, and that you canattribute to being Quinn’s partner on
the force.”
    Frank chuckled. “We do go back a long
way, don’t we?”
    “Eight years, my knight in shining
armor.” She sighed again. “Don’t know how I would have survived without you
since Quinn died.”
    “Oh-oh, guilt just took up residence in
my gut.”
    “If you’re talking about the five years
you were MIA, we’ve discussed it, and I’ve forgiven you. I know you loved
Quinn, as you do Marlow and Rand.”
    Ah, his chance to change the subject.
“How is Marlow these days, doing well in school?”
    “Her senior year and you know how that
goes—too many parties, too many boyfriends, and too little studying. It’s a
battle, but we’re getting on fine. She misses Rand not living at home, as do I,
but I know the best place for him after losing his father is with you.”
    He closed his eyes. “Emily, I’m not
Rand’s father. We’ve never talked about it outright, but surely you
know―”
    “Stop right there. My mother said I
arrived during the night, but not last night. I know Rand struggles with his
sexual identity—have known it for years. Quinn knew it, too. We talked about it
on many occasions.” He pictured tears brimming in the green eyes, an exact
replica of Rand’s. “And I know you’ve warred with the very same issue.” An
ironic laugh followed her words. “If one has a sense of humor, it is rather
comedic, don’t you think? The virile, tough street cop turned PI, the man women
wet their panties over, is gay.”
    “Christ, Emily, you’re no good at
bat-fowling, either.”
    “Bat-fowling, beating around the bush, I
learned that from you. We share an odd sort of intimacy, wouldn’t you agree?”
    “Yes, we do, and I’m happy to call you
friend, a true friend.”
    “Good, me too, and that’s why I know I
can count on you again. Jeffords no doubt told you they found another college
student floating in the Patuxent this morning.” She choked on the last words.
    “He did, and I’m sorry to hear the kid
is the son of your friend, Martha.”
    “She’s devastated. Divorced ten years
ago.  Thomas is an only child and Martha thinks the sun and moon exist just for
him.” Another pause and he heard the wheels turning in her pretty head. “What
else did Jeffords say? I get the feeling the Department is holding back.”
    “He didn’t say anything specific about
Thomas other than they found him this morning like you said. As for the other
part of your question, the Department always withholds evidence from the
public. They hold crime scene evidence close to their chest—things only a
killer would know.”
    “So you think there is a killer?”
    “Hold on now, Em. I didn’t say that. I
don’t know enough about the case, only what I’ve read in the papers.”
    “You’re doing that bat-fowling thing. I
know you’ve channeled this, tapped into your inner spirit or whatever you call
it.” When he didn’t answer she asked, “Am I right?”
    He blew air out his lips. “Yes.”
    “I knew it! And?”
    “I just don’t know.”
    “Frank...”
    “All right. I’ve had some strange dreams
lately, but convoluted, murky.”
    “Dreams about whom, about what?”
    Christ, why did she have to call him
today? “About shiny, metallic objects.”
    “Thanks for narrowing it down.” He heard
her slosh something down, coffee most likely. “That could be anything.”
    “Needles.”
    “Sewing needles?”
    Frank looked at his briefcase lying on
the chair beside him and struggled for words. “No, as in syringes.”
    “Frank, do you think it means the young
men who died were into drugs?”
    “Back up three or four sentences. Didn’t
I say my dreams are always murky? Christ, Emily, it could mean anything from
diabetes to nursing homes.”
    He heard her doorbell ring.
    “Damn, hang on.”
    Frank kept the phone to his ear and
listened to the muffled