Page 2 of No Time for Doubt
Chapter 2
Chicago Police DetectiveCade Laurier had been yanked away from his planned day off, leaving his girlfriend and their warm bed behind to answer a home invasion call.Not the first in this affluent neighborhood, unfortunately.The mayor and powers that be were pushing to resolve the situation before anyone else got hurt.
A crime scene wasn’t his favorite start to the day.Unfortunately, it happened way too often.As a soon-to-be father, he increasingly wished for people to behave themselves and put him out of business.Oh well.Until society figured out how to live in peace and harmony, he’d stand in the gap, doing his thing to protect the peace and find justice for victims.
Starting with the crime scene in front of him.
There had been a mighty struggle.His well-trained eye assessed the overturned chair, toppled lamp, shattered coffee table, and miscellaneous debris.This hadn’t been staged, it was the real deal.
The expensive rug in the front room, along with the runner in the hallway, showed parallel drag marks, as if someone had been hauled away.
If this incident was related to the other home invasions in the area, the culprits had escalated to kidnapping.Never a good sign.
He checked his watch.There were hours yet before he was expected at today’s ultrasound appointment where he and Samantha would get their first look at the baby.They were so excited to welcome a little one.A baby before the wedding wasn’t the order he’d envisioned, then again, Samantha coming into his life—and sticking—had been a surprise.
She was solid.Didn’t freak out while he was on duty, which was more than could be said for his previous relationships.Being involved with a cop wasn’t an easy road.He loved her and he trusted her, and he appreciated her patience with his career.
Prior to getting called away, he’d planned on taking her out to shop for the nursery before their appointment.Ideas only.Although he knew they wouldn’t walk out without something.
But this...He looked around, stifling a sigh.He had plenty of time to get this situation squared away.Assuming it was just as it appeared.And if not, he was sure she’d be just as eager to shop after the ultrasound.
Maybe that was better.Assuming they could agree on whether or not they should learn if they were having a boy or a girl.
“What are you going to do?”
The husband’s sharp demand came right on cue.Daniel Pereda, wearing rumpled slacks and a dress shirt radiated impatience and entitlement, but not a lot of grief.Cade didn’t want this to be another cliché, but people had patterns, tendencies.There was a reason the police always looked at the spouse first in situations like this.
“We’re going to investigate,” Cade stated calmly.“We’ll do our best to find your wife.”
“Thank you.”
“While the team gathers evidence, I have a few questions.”
“I’ve told the officers everything I know,” Pereda snapped.
“Great.Thank you.”Cade had spoken with the first responding officers before he’d walked in.The forensic team was just getting started.He was working with a small window of investigative opportunity, and he intended to make the most of it.“I just need to clarify some details.”
Pereda gave a brisk nod, gesturing for Cade to get on with it.
The clarification confirmed the same story the husband had given the responding officers.Daniel and his wife, Nell, had gotten into a fight last night.Over the phone.Typical marital stuff.The wife wanted to change things, and the husband was resistant.Pissed off, the husband slept at the office last night.
Had resistance turned to abuse?Maybe the verbal had turned physical.
