Killing Roses

10__Play date

Roman had heard wrong. Davis hadn't just said what he thought he said. Had he?

He leaned over onto the desk.

"What?"

Davis nodded gravely. "I'm sorry, son. It's been three years."

Roman let out a huff. Then he let out a humorless laugh. "Why would I believe that, Lieutenant? Why would I believe that my baby brother is dead?"

"Because it's been confirmed. I went back as far as the past twelve years, son. After Liam Parker was adopted and separated from you, he only stayed in the state of New York for a year before he and his parents Wendy and Markus Downy moved to California. He lived there until three years ago. He died at the age of thirteen in a car accident."

Roman could only stare at Davis, unable to move an inch. He felt as though his heart was being crushed inside his chest. Like the point of all his efforts for the past ten years had suddenly disappeared. As though someone had snatched away the reason for which he lived. He felt the pain and then the flood of guilt.

With a shudder, Roman leaned his head onto the table, rubbing a hand hard over his chest where his heart hurt like hell.

It was all his fault. Liam was dead and it was all Roman's fault. If he'd looked after his brother the way he'd promised his mother, Liam would've been alive today. Liam would've been okay.

"I'm sorry, son," Roman heard Davis say quietly.

Roman lifted his head and looked at Davis, his jaw tightly clenched. He nodded once.

Unable to say anything, he stood and walked dazedly to the door. Liam was dead.

Jerking him out his thoughts, his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

Fishing it out, Roman brought it to his ear.

"Parker." His voice was rough and dull, but Roman didn't bother clearing his throat.

"Roman. Stark, here. Suspect left something at Miss Valerie Quinn's apartment. I'm gonna need you to come through, check this out before we send it with CSU. I think we can confirm that the lady is being targeted."

Roman swallowed. "Roger."

"And we'll—"

Stark heard the line go dead in his ear and stared at the phone for a second before he turned to Valerie with a smile.

Valerie nodded knowingly. "Hung up, didn't he?"

Stark laughed and nodded. "Yup, that's our Detective Parker. He's alright."

"Are you two close?" Valentina asked from where she was seated on the sofa.

Stark sent her a charming grin. "More than Parker will ever admit. He loves me, I swear."

Valerie scoffed. "I doubt he's capable of such sentiments, Officer. He's rather off-ish, your Detective Parker."

Tina coughed. "Uh, really, Val?"

Valerie cringed. She had to get Valentina out of there before she said anything she wasn't supposed to.

Slapping on a crooked smile, Val tugged on Tina's arm until her friend stood.

"Tina—"

"Really?" said Tina, raising a perfectly arched dark brow. "You're gonna kick me out in front of the sexy cop?"

Val sighed in exasperation when Officer Stark gave Tina a why-thank-you-pretty-lady smile that even Valerie couldn't deny was sexy as hell. The two of them would surely give her a headache before Michael even got out of the shower.

Val glanced at the cop. "Officer, would it or would it not be safer for my friend and colleague here to keep her distance from me while a killer goes about plotting my demise?"

Officer Stark turned his sparkly blues to the stunning woman next to Valerie Quinn and felt himself hesitate. He blinked in surprise at himself. Wow. He'd never met a woman whose presence captured him so deeply that he wanted her to remain on scene.

He cleared his throat, lowering his gaze when the dark-headed beauty tilted her head at him. "Uhm, we would recommend that your friend keeps her distance, yes. Unless, of course, she happened to be in danger as well, in which case, we'd provide protection for you both while the case is ongoing."

Tina glanced at Val. "In danger, you say?"

Valerie shook her head immediately. "Don't even think about it, Tina! Let's go."

Valerie tugged a laughing Tina towards the door, rolling her eyes when her friend threw a flirty wave at the cop over her shoulder.

Finally, she got her out the door. "I'll call you, okay?" said Val as Tina pulled her in for a warm hug.

Valentina lingered on the hug. She'd known Valerie only for the past year, but she already couldn't stand the thought of losing her. "You stay safe, you hear?" she whispered.

Valerie nodded.

Tina pulled away and pushed a curl behind Val's ear. "Call me."

Val smiled and nodded. "I will. And Tina... after Jenny, I'm... I'm scared. So please stay safe."

Valentina scoffed. "Don't worry about me. I'll be careful."

Val nodded and watched her friend walk towards the elevator.

It opened and Val's heart jumped into her throat as Roman Parker walked out, looking mouth-watering. Oh, damn. She looked a mess! Why did he have to appear now?! Keeping her arms crossed, she forced herself to not try and fix her hair.

Val watched as Tina froze in her steps, barely responding when Roman nodded at her. The second she was behind him, Tina's jaw dropped and she looked at Valerie with eyes as wide as saucers.

"That's him?" she mouthed, pointing wildly at Roman. "Oh, my God! Did you do the nasty yet?" she mouthed. Val squinted, wondering if her friend was really a mental case, but Valentina, of course, took it to mean that Val hadn't understood her.

Valerie watched her proceed to perform a bunch of vulgar gestures to get her meaning across.

When Roman glanced over his shoulder at her, she quickly straightened and leaned forward to press the elevator button.

Val sighed in exasperation.

Her friend was a total nutcase. She loved her.

"Miss Quinn."

The cold, dull greeting had Valerie looking up. Roman nodded coolly at her, all formality and politeness.

Valerie wanted to scowl but controlled herself. She didn't want his politeness! She didn't want it at all. She sighed.

Oh, no.

He was going to be that kind of guy, wasn't he? The kind that made you feel a bunch of chemical reactions, made you go out of your mind with desire, and then just acted like nothing freaking happened.

Fine. Two could play that game.

"Detective," Val greeted. With a cool nod of her own, she turned on her heel and strode into the apartment.

She could hear him behind her as she walked over to the fridge and grabbed an apple.

"Detective," said Stark.

Washing her apple at the sink, she eyed Roman as he walked over to Officer Stark and conversed in hushed tones with him.

Huh! Valerie rolled her eyes and bit loudly into her apple. It was a good thing that Roman was just too handsome and too rude. Val had no trouble staying away from that type. And stay away from him, she would!

"Uh, Miss Val?"

Valerie blinked, emerging from her wrathful thoughts and glancing at the hallway.

Michael stood awkwardly there, rubbing the back of his neck. The clothes he slept in looking far too large suddenly.

Valerie noticed how Roman stopped his conversation and stared pointedly at Michael. She narrowed her eyes. If he had a problem with Michael, he could take it out with her. And that went for everyone else. They could all fight her!

Nearly bursting from her sudden confrontation-ready mood, she strutted confidently over to a hesitant Michael.

"What's up, kid?" she asked, hands on her hips.

He eyed the cops in her living room and said in a hushed tone: "Uh, I can't—"

"What's that?" said Valerie, unaware that her voice was ten times his volume.

Michael flinched from embarrassment. "I can't find my clothes! The- the ones I came in. They might have gotten stolen, but... now I've got nothing to change into."

Valerie gave him a blank look. "Why would they get stolen, Michael?"

He blinked at her and shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You know... it happens. People break in all the time, right? I always lose my stuff like that. They probably took it while we was out."

Valerie stared at him and the pure honesty in his eyes and her heart ached in her chest. What on earth had this child been through?

"Michael... nobody stole your clothes. I took them because they were no good. Nobody breaks in here. It's safe."

He looked uncertainly around at the door and windows for a minute and slowly nodded, his grey eyes full of interest. They were beautiful as Valerie looked up into them. His thick, dark lashes were damp from the shower and Val sighed. This child could put a whole bunch of professional models to shame.

"For real though?" he asked curiously. "Nobody ever breaks in here?" Val nodded and the kid nodded, looking impressed. "That's cool. So, my clothes...?"

"Miss Quinn."

Their conversation was cut short as Roman, who Val was sure heard every word, began walking over to them. Officer Stark waved at Val over his head and made his way to the front door.

Valerie quickly turned to Michael. "I left more clothes on the bed. They're mine, but they're men's clothes, some of them are brand new. Okay? I'll get you proper ones when we get time."

Michael firmly shook his head. "Nah, Miss Val. You don't have to do that. I'll just keep the ones you've given me now, they're alright. Thank you, Miss Val."

She watched him walk away with his laid back surfer stride and frowned. What was all that about her not having to buy him clothes? The ones she gave him were practically pajamas!

"Really going hard with this adoption thing, aren't you?"

Valerie turned back to face Roman and gulped. Geez, he was even more gorgeous up close in the daylight. And with her curtains wide open, the light was streaming in, illuminating every inch of his gorgeousness.

She scowled.

"I'm a social worker. Adoption is inevitably a part of my life. Does that bother you, Detective?"

He shrugged, sending a glance down towards the room Michael had disappeared into.

"It's none of my business." Val nodded firmly in agreement, but he ignored her. "I've arranged a safe house—"

Roman stopped abruptly when his phone rang. Frowning, he dug it out of his pocket, ready to end the call but hesitated when he saw who it was.

Dane's name flashed on the screen and Roman asked Valerie to excuse him for a moment, to which she responded with a regal wave of her hand like she was dismissing a peasant from before her throne.

Ignoring her, Roman answered the call. "Parker."

The deep voice that laughed made an involuntary smile curve across Roman's face.

"Damn, listen to you," said Dane with a laugh. "Mr big Detective. How's it goin'?

Roman nodded, still smiling. He glanced at Valerie who was strangely staring at him like he was made of sparkling diamonds. "Goin' alright, Dane. You good?"

"All good, Rome. All good. You got a case? You workin' right now?"

Roman nodded, trying to ignore his "work" that was currently leaning over to get a look at his face. What was she doing?

"Yeah, man, I'm working right now." He cringed, he'd have to cut this call short, unfortunately. He felt guilty because he hadn't been there for Dane since he'd lost his aunt, but work was work. "What's up?"

Roman heard Dane sigh and it sounded blissfully happy. Like he was currently sitting on the highest point on earth with the best view ever.

"Nothing much, man. Just gardening."

Roman scoffed. "Since when?"

"Since Aunt Maude died. Just watching her roses for her."

Dane gave a light chuckle and Roman felt even guiltier. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, man."

"Hey, it's alright. I get it. Listen, go back to work, alright, I know I'm keeping you. Talk later."

Roman nodded. "Alright."

The light went dead and he looked at the phone for a second. He hadn't told Dane what he found out about Liam. Roman sighed. He'd do that later when nobody was listening in.

Pocketing his phone, he turned to face Valerie.

She was standing behind the kitchen counter, a step higher than the rest of the room, so he was looking up at her.

She stood stock-still, staring at her phone in her hand. A bad feeling slipped into Roman's gut. She was so still, her gaze so transfixed on the cell phone screen that Roman was afraid to call out to her.

Quietly, he got up onto the platform and walked around to where she stood.

Easily seeing her screen from over her dainty shoulders, he took a look at whatever had her so still.

Roman stared at the screen and felt like his blood had gone cold in his veins.

No way.

The message was clear as Valerie had zoomed in on the words in the text.

"This morning, I gave you rose, but the very next second you gave it away. Next time, to save me from tears, I'll plant it in a hole in your neck. Ha-ha. Just playing, sweetheart. Wanna play? 36thth Street, Midtown Manhattan. Your safe house. Come on over. Let's play."