Killing Roses

14__Playing Cop

Valerie blinked at the shabby buildings they had parked across from, the confusion clear on her face. Was Shawn not in Austria?

“You will remain in the car and wait for me to return,” Roman was saying as he grabbed his badge and phone, shoving them in his pockets. “If anything happens, call me right away and I’ll be out in a second.”

Blinking when his words registered, Valerie turned to him. “Wait, what? You’re going in without me?”

Roman paused with his hand on the door handle. He turned to face her and found that his large car suddenly seemed too small. Surely, she was too close, her face barely a foot from his and her scent all over his car. She blinked her honey pool brown eyes at him.

Turning away, Roman clenched his jaw. “Ms. Quinn, you are the target of a killer in a case that I must crack.” Roman had no clue whether he was reminding her or himself. “It's a priority that you are protected.”

Val nodded. “Yeah, then take me with you! Plus, that wasn’t the deal! I was supposed to help you interrogate Shaw—”

“I don’t remember making a deal with you—”

“Roman, I’m—”

“Detective… Parker,” Roman said in a low growl. “That’s Detective Parker to you.” He’d be damned if he’d let her purr his name out like that in such a small space. There was only so much he could take.

Val shrunk back with a raised brow. “Oh. It’s like that?”

“We have—”

Valerie held up a hand and sighed. “Whatever. I’m coming with you. Detective.”

Before Roman could say another word, she had thrown open her door and hopped out.

With a muttered cursed, he followed after her, his scowl unhidden as he scanned the area. Valerie glanced at him, unaffected by the look that sent Roman’s colleagues running.

“Which one is it?” she asked, still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Shawn was in the States, that too, right there in New York.

“Follow me,” Roman grumbled in response, marching across the street.

Glancing about warily, Valerie hurried after him, running and skipping to match his long stride. Why was he in such a damn hurry when there was a zero percent chance that Shawn knew anything about the man who killed Jenny? Scowling at the back of Roman’s head, Valerie followed him into the dark hallway of a rundown building.

They reached the dimly lit stairs where a loud screech pierced the air the moment Roman laid a foot on the first step. Valerie watched him react instinctively, whipping out his gun and pointing it directly at the source of the high-pitched sound.

In the dark corner of the step, wide blue-green eyes stared up into the barrel of Roman’s gun and a very low meow followed.

Valerie gasped at the bundle of fur as the cat pulled its tail out of the way. “What are you doing pointing that thing at a little cat?!”

Shoving him aside, Val crouched to greet the cat, ignoring the look of disgust on Roman’s face.

“What was that thing doing in my way?”

She gave him a look over her shoulder. “He wasn’t in your way, you stepped on his tail!”

Roman rolled his eyes as Valerie turned back to the cat who took an immediate liking to her.

“You poor little darling,” she cooed. “He scared you, didn’t he? He’s horrible, isn’t he? Oh, you little sweetheart!”

The sight was sickening to him, so Roman turned away. Touching a dirty cat from God knows where. Yuck. “What the hell is she doing?” he muttered to himself before glancing at Valerie. “Hey, don’t get in my car after playing with that dirty creature.”

Valerie glared at him and Roman ignored her, placing his gun back in its holster and continuing up the stairs.

“Stay close!” he snapped.

Huffing, Valerie picked up the beautiful ginger cat and followed after him.

****************

The third door of the fourth floor was just as shabby as the rest of the building. Valerie looked at it in wonder. This was where Shawn was staying? Impossible. “Skiing in Alaska and safari in South Africa” Shawn? Val wouldn’t believe it till she saw it.

Roman knocked on the door, his powerful fist rattling the whole thing so hard, Val thought it would simply crumble to a pile of wood dust before them.

“Who is it?” asked a croaky voice.

“Jason,” answered Roman making Valerie raise her brows.

The door flew open just as Roman flashed his badge and before Valerie could blink, it came slamming closed again, but Roman’s foot on the old wood pushed it back open.

The woman who’d tried to close it in a panic once she realized who was on the other side stood in the doorway, eyes wide and skin pale.

“W-who are you people?” she demanded in her croaky voice. Valerie studied her. Her blonde hair, which once could have been a glorious mane, was thin and oily, matted to her scalp and thus making her bloodshot eyes appear even larger and rat-like.

Roman flashed his badge again, waltzing into the apartment. “I’m Detective Parker. Looking for one Shawn Crews. Is he here?”

The woman hissed at Roman’s turned back as he looked around the messy apartment.

Apprehensive, Valerie snuck in silently, feeling a little more than uncomfortable as she held the fluffy kitty in her arms.

“No! He’s not!” hissed the woman before frowning and turning away. “Er… I mean… Shawn who? Never heard of him! So you’re cops, eh?!”

Her voice was loud enough to rattle the windows and Valerie wondered if she was trying to warn someone of their presence.

“Yup!” Roman easily said as he casually pulled open cupboards and doors. “Where is Crews? Just wanna have a little chat, you see?”

“He’s not— D-don’t know who that is! You got a warrant for this?” the woman snapped, yanking up the weak strap of her tank top.

“Gotta see him today though,” said Roman as he pushed open the door to what looked like a very unhygienic bathroom. Valerie gasped at what she saw then. Above a toilet, which was once upon a time pristine white, dangled the hairy legs of a grown man, his top half already out the glass-less window frame as he tried to reach for the railing of the fire escape stairs.

Sighing, Roman reached in and, grabbing a fistful of the man’s shirt, easily pulled him back in. “Shawn Crews. Let’s chat for a bit.”

“Hey!” barked the guy. “Let go! Who do you think you are?!”

Ignoring the complaints, Roman shoved Shawn Crews out of the bathroom and into the living room where his woman stood with wide, apologetic eyes. Damn cops were here. It was over for both of them.

“I’m getting my lawyer!” Shawn was yelling. “You have no idea who—”

The room suddenly went dead silent. His words froze in his throat, his face paling in shock as Shawn finally spotted Valerie who stood closest to the door, her eyes wide and her arms wrapped securely around a cat.

“V… Valerie Quinn?”

Val released a breath. She could not believe her eyes. It was Shawn. It really was Shawn! What the hell had he done to his life? God, she was so glad they broke up all those years ago.

“Alright,” muttered Roman impatiently before shoving Shawn onto a sofa. “Sit right here.”

Shawn’s gaze hadn’t left Valerie’s face. “What are you doing here?” he asked. A few seconds went by during which Val remained silent and Shawn quickly lowered his dark blue eyes. “I… uh… I don’t live here!” He told Valerie suddenly, looking at her with wide eyes. “I’m just… it’s a friend’s house and I’m waiting for him to get home. Ha-ha!”

“What the f**k are you talking about?” demanded the blonde woman, crossing her arms. “You do live here! With me!” She turned her glare onto Valerie. “Who is this b***h?! Are you one of his bitches?!”

Valerie’s mouth parted. Talk about disrespect! “Excuse me—” Valerie began crossly but stopped when Roman reached back, yanking the woman away from Val and dropping her on the sofa next to her boyfriend.

“Hey—” Began the woman, stopping when Roman turned a cold, steel grey glare on her.

Shrinking away, she lowered her gaze.

Flipping out his badge once more, Roman showed it to both of them. “I’m Detective Parker. Got some questions for you and you’re gonna answer every single one of them. Got it?”

The woman hesitantly nodded, but Shawn only clenched his jaw. “I wanna know why my ex is here.” He looked at Val with a half a smile. “You a cop now? Did you finally leave your daddy's shadow?”

Roman felt his fist tighten. “I’ll ask the questions, you keep your mouth shut unless I ask you to speak.”

Shawn Crews didn’t hide the anger in his eyes. “You got a warrant, Detective?”

Roman scoffed. “You’ve been called down to the station for questioning three times now, I could drag your ass away right now. Not to mention the fact that this woman opened the door under the impression that I was Jason. Now shall we find out exactly who Jason is and why you’d so willingly let him in? Or better yet, shall we yank out some of your blood for testing and see just what we’ll find?”

“No!” Shawn’s eyes grew round. If he and Tati got taken downtown… or if they got tested… it was over, they’d throw their asses in jail for using. Not to mention Jason’s for being their dealer. Maybe if he answered all the cop’s questions, the guy would leave them alone.

But Valerie…

His gaze went back to her as she watched him with the same shocked expression. s**t, he’d get so embarrassed in front of Valerie. f**k. He’d wanted the b***h to think he was living the high life. The life she was accustomed to. Not... this.

Shit.

“Ask…” he murmured.

Roman tilted his head. “What’s that?”

“Ask your questions!”

With a nod, Roman straightened and held his hands behind his back. “Good. Now—”

“You been trying to kill me?” asked Valerie suddenly.

Roman spun around, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. What the hell was her problem? Who said she should ask any questions?

“What?” asked Shawn, raising a brow.

Roman held up a hand. “Ms. Quinn—”

“Shawn, I said,” continued Valerie, a sick feeling suddenly in her gut as Shawn looked up at her with his bloodshot eyes and his lopsided grin. “Have you been trying to kill me?”