Page 2 of Night Moves

At the precinct I meet the officer in charge. Officer Smith. He goes over my ID’s, and I show him the custody papers for my missing niece to make damn sure they know who Eizlee Jane belongs with. Then he takes me to the morgue where I identify my sister.

I’m a soldier. I’ve seen death before. But looking at my sister’s lifeless body breaks something inside me. Regret and sadness fill me first. Images of her happy and holding her sweet little girl. Her promise that now she was going to be the best, most loving mom ever. She was never going to be like our mom.

She meant it. I know she did.

“Tell me what’s happened, what you know.”

“We got an anonymous call. Officers went to your sister’s apartment at twenty-three hundred hours. There was no response. The door was unlocked. Your sister was unresponsive on the floor. Ambulance was called. Autopsy is not complete, but we suspect a drug overdose.

“There was no sign of the baby?”

“No. Obviously we could tell a baby lived there but no child was found. Once we found out your sister worked nights at one of the clubs we’ve been checking for babysitters.”

“What about the baby cam? I was here at Christmas, and we upgraded from her old one.”

He frowns. “There was no mention of a baby cam in the report. I’ll have someone check.”

“I just saw my sister during the holidays. She was not using. She’d been drug-free for almost five years. She would never take a chance and endanger Eizlee Jane. If it was an overdose, someone gave her the drug without her knowledge. She was murdered.

“Who are your suspects?” I press.

“Sir. The cause of death has not been confirmed. It could have been natural causes.”

“You just said you suspect drug overdose. I’m telling you if it was, it was murder because my sister did-not-do-drugs.”

The man’s jaw tightens. I can tell he just mentally shut me off. I wonder how the fuck he’d feel if it was his sister laying on a slab.

“We are continuing to look for the child,” he continues. “I have no more information for you at this time. We will notify you as soon as we learn something.”

“Do you have my sister’s phone?”

“I can check to see if it was collected and if it can be released. I’ll let you know.”

“I’d like a copy of the police report.”

“You can file a request online. It will take about ten days.”

“You can’t print one right now?”

“You need to follow the procedures.”

“Why are you stonewalling me? What aren’t you telling me?”

He gives me a dismissing glare. “Leave your contact information. We’ll let you know if we find the child or have any new information.”

“I’ll be staying until my niece is found. How long before I can get into my sister’s apartment?”

“I’ll let you know.” He pauses. “I know this is a shock. We’ll do what we can but there’s no evidence of foul play.”

“My niece is missing. I call that foul play.”

“We don’t know that she’s missing. It could be she’s with a nanny or simply staying over with friends while your sister partied.” He sighs. “Look, one of the women where your sister worked confirmed she had a woman who babysat once and a while. But they didn’t have a name. Do you know the name or number?”

“No.” So what if it’s withholding info. He’s doing the same.

Diego and Silk are waiting for me outside. “They’re holding back. Won’t give me much info. I asked for a copy of the report, and he tells me to request it online.”

Diego asks the name of the officer in charge. I tell him. “Name’s not familiar. Let me call Raven.” He walks away. When he comes back, he’s frowning. “She says the jury’s out on Officer Fred Smith. He’s new.

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