“No, I don’t think so, but I can ask. Are you guys investigating them or something? Are they dangerous?”
“No, no investigation. I think I ran into one of them last week and I found him just as strange. I’m curious is all. Yeah, if you talk to your wife about it and she remembers names or something else, let me know, would you please?”
“Sure, Sarge.”
Knowing I had Kelly Dixon’s homicide to work, I couldn’t help but focus on this Mormon group that seemed to be popping up everywhere. That is, if they really were Mormons. I passed my own office and went into Coop’s. Naomi was in there with him and they were assigning cases.
“Glad to have you back, stranger. How’s Lola?” Coop pushed a chair at me.
“She’s adjusting.” I took the offered seat. “She’s still asking for her mother every day, but I don’t think she understands it. For the most part, the kids are occupying her, even had her on the trampoline the other day.”
“She is absolutely beautiful, CeeCee,” Naomi added. “I’m glad to see you didn’t have any problems obtaining custody.”
“So far so good.” I thought of Lola and smiled; I missed her already. “Off the subject, Coop, do you remember the weird guy at the homicide scene?”
“How could I forget?”
I filled him in on the conversation with the uniformed officer and, mistakenly, brought up the suggestion of discreetly looking into the group.
“For what?” Naomi piped up. “You’ve got a homicide to work. Not to mention, these people haven’t committed any crimes. So for us to look into them is a waste of time, time that we already don’t have enough of.”
I should’ve known better than to bring up something like this in front of Naomi. She was a dear friend, but on the flip side, she could be a complete pain in the ass as my boss.
“I’m aware I have a homicide to work, Naomi. All I’m saying is let’s just keep our ears and eyes open about them—that’s all.”
She waved her hand at me. “Whatever, I just want this Kelly Dixon thing cleared up as soon as possible. The other detectives are getting overwhelmed by the gang murders and they might need your help. J.P. called yesterday and said the autopsy results should be in by this afternoon. That should get you started.” She stood up to leave. “Keep me posted.”
After Naomi left, I turned to Coop and raised my eyebrow. He knew what I was thinking and wanted no part of it.
“No way. You heard what she just said, CeeCee.”
“Oh come on, just a few phone calls. She’ll never know.” I smiled coyly.
“That is the woman I go to bed with every night and wake up next to every morning. Believe me, she’ll know.”
“I told you it was a bad idea to start fucking the boss.”
Now it was his turn to raise his eyebrow at me. He knew I was joking, but there was a bit of truth to it.
“What do you want me to do?” he conceded.
“Find out who owns the property down there. Whose name it’s deeded to, and how they paid for it. See if you can’t do a discreet drive-by and run some license plates on any cars. You know the drill. Oh, and see if you can find out if there’s any children living there.”
“If Naomi finds out, it’ll be me and my hand for the next six months.”
“If she does, I’ll pay for a hooker.”
“I think I’d prefer my hand.”
“Suit yourself. Let me know what you find out.” I gave him a wink and headed down to my office.
Ignoring the Kelly Dixon file that glared at me from atop my desk, I picked up the phone to call Michael. He hadn’t arrived in his office yet, and when he answered his cell phone, I asked my question without even saying hello.
“Does the FBI have a specific unit that tracks religious cults?” I knew I sounded impatient.
“Oh, hello to you, too. I’m fine, honey, thanks for asking,” he answered sarcastically.
“Sorry, I’m in the middle of something. So, can you find out for me?”
“What does this have to do with the