Reckless Eyeballin'

CHAPTER ONE Sergeant Dominic Paresi poured his second cup of coffee for the morning and watched the double doors opening into the squad room. His partner was late. He stirred a spoonful of sugar into the coffee and added some cream. As he walked back to his desk, she appeared. "It's about time," he said, sitting down at the desk facing hers. "Good morning to you, too." Star took off her coat and hung it on the wooden rack behind her chair. "I had to go home and feed my cat. I'm ten minutes late." "Ten minutes really late," her partner said cryptically. "What's going on?" She sat down, facing him. Paresi leaned forward, beckoning her to do the same. "Willis Henderson's wife shot him this morning." "SWAT Willis Henderson?" Star asked, her eyes wide. "That be the man," Paresi said. "His wife put one right between his eyes this morning over breakfast." "Yikes!" Star grimaced. "Talk about starting your day with a bang," Paresi said. She looked at her partner. "Point-blank, between the eyes? That's his speciality." Paresi nodded. "Neat as anything he's ever done," he said. "I guess sharpshooting runs in the family." "Between the eyes," Star muttered. "Boom!" Paresi indicated the center of his forehead. "Third eye, for real. I hear it was so neat it could've blinked." Star sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that." She looked at Paresi. "Though I was no fan of Willis Henderson's. Truthfully, I thought the guy was a jerk." "You and everybody else with a brain," Paresi said. "Yeah, but nobody deserves that. I wonder what made her do it?" Paresi shrugged. "Who knows? The way I heard it, she plugged him and then sat down and had a cup of coffee." Star's eyes widened. "Are you serious?" Paresi nodded. "Sergeant Greene got the call. He said she was perfectly calm. She told him what happened, asked for a squad and a meat wagon." Paresi leaned forward. "Then she asked him how he was, and inquired after his wife and kids." Star shook her head. "Sounds like she was either in shock, or totally unspooled." "You be the judge," Paresi said. "She's here, in Interrogation Two." "She's here?" "Not only is she here," her partner said, "she's asking to talk to you." "Me?" Star looked surprised. "Why?" Paresi shrugged. "Dunno. All I can tell you is that Lewis has been running out here every five minutes looking for you, so I suggest you trot on in and see what's happening." Star was on her feet. "Thanks for the heads up." "Any time." Paresi watched her walk through the squad room and turn the corner, heading toward the interrogation rooms. Captain Arthur Lewis looked up when Star entered. He glanced at the clock and back at her. "Morning," she said. "Sorry I'm late." "No problem," Lewis said. He indicated the small, thin, mocha-colored woman seated across the table. "Star, this is Mrs. Willis Henderson." [read more]