Destined

CHAPTER THREE-2

“No, no, no.” Connie stood at her desk at the station, reading the computer printout. “What the f**k is this, Louis?”

Louis put his hand on his hip with his usual “couldn’t-care-less” expression. “That’s what Detective White gave me.”

“This isn’t enough.” Connie flipped through the pages. “I asked for a list of every reported missing female; white with brunette hair around the ages of twenty-five to thirty and I get back three measly pages?”

He batted his long, girlish lashes. “That’s what he gave me.”

Connie slammed the papers on her desk. “I’m supposed to believe that in Baltimore Maryland, these are all the missing women who’ve been reported?”

“Who fit your description?” He stuck out his neck, waving his arm as if he were on the Miss America pageant. “Yes.”

“You got a f****d up attitude.” She started a database search on her computer. “There is a woman out there whose life is on the line and you don’t care enough to do your damn job.”

“So you know of someone missing in particular?” He stuck out his lipstick lips. “Then why didn’t you give White more information?”

“Since when are you a cop?”

“Oh, excuse me.” He backed up, snapping his fingers. “Forgive the peon for asking questions.” He flounced away through the crowd of detectives.

Detective Jolie Phelps sat on the edge of Connie’s desk. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Maybe I can help.” With that strawberry-red hair, pale skin and capricious eyes, Jolie resembled a real life Botticelli painting. “I’m between cases, you need a partner, and Dee’s tied up...literally.”

“Jolie, that’s not funny.”

“Sorry.” She pretended to zip her lip. “Bad, bad joke. I hope Dee’s okay. But the offer still stands to be your partner if you need one.”

“I have to do this myself.”

Jolie smiled in between chewing gum. “I’m here if you need me.”

A tall, slender woman with delicate skin stopped at Connie’s desk. “Excuse me.”

Connie leaped from her chair. “Dr. Guzman.”

Linda Guzman smiled, her chocolate eyes sparkling against her purple blazer. “Bet you didn’t expect to see me here, huh?”

Connie gestured to Jolie. “Detective Phelps, this is Dr. Linda Guzman.”

“Oh, my gosh.” Jolie got off the desk and took her hand. “Your Lisa Swanson’s psychiatrist. Without you she wouldn’t have gotten through that crap with Mason Crawford. You’re a miracle worker.”

“That’s kind of you, but I’m no miracle worker.” Linda let go of Jolie’s hand. “I just help my patients see things clearer.”

“How can I help you, Dr. Guzman?” Connie asked.

Linda glanced at Jolie with a timid smile.

“Oh, sorry.” Jolie backed up from the desk. “I guess you want to talk to Connie alone. Catch you later Connie and chill out.” She left.

“Wait a minute.” Connie tapped her fingers on her desk. “Did Grayson Paul send you

here?”

“Excuse me?” The wrinkles under Linda’s eyes added mystique to her sultry features. She

was 62-years-old but looked 20 years younger.

Connie didn’t know what Fountain of Youth Linda drank from but she hoped to find it by the time she was Linda’s age.

“Grayson’s been begging me to talk to someone about my experience with CeCe Babbitt, but I don’t need a shrink.”

“Well, I am here to discuss CeCe Babbitt but it doesn’t have to do with you. His attorney, Betsy Flowers arranged for me to see CeCe at the rehabilitation center.” Linda sat and crossed her legs with the elegance of Audrey Hepburn. “She doesn’t trust that CeCe is getting a proper evaluation and wanted me to take over. I came here to get your opinion of him.”

“Where do I start?” Connie grinned, rubbing her golden ponytail. “He’s a s******c killer, stalker, and manipulator. It’s his goal in life to get over on people and make them see things the way he wants them to.”

“I’ve already researched his past.” A banana clip held Linda’s wavy hair in a whimsical French roll. “I’ve also read up on his case and the alleged crimes he’s committed.”

“Not alleged.” Connie paused from sipping her stale coffee. “He did them.”

A light smile graced Linda’s supple lips. “Innocent until proven guilty, Detective.”

“Forget what you’ve read about him. I assure you CeCe is unlike any patient you’ve ever come across. You want my advice on how to handle him? Stay away from him and tell Flowers to get someone else.”

“I already committed to the job.” Linda uncrossed her legs wearing designer, suede pumps. “If CeCe cooperates.”

“You realize he gets fixated on every woman he finds attractive?” Connie overlooked Linda. “You’re a beautiful woman.”

Linda smiled. “I appreciate that.”

“Beautiful women and CeCe don’t mix. He’s gonna go after you, Doctor.”

“I’m well aware of CeCe’s behavior towards women. It stems from his mother abandoning him when he was little.” Linda’s voice oozed authority. “Because of his mother’s actions, he doesn’t trust women but becomes hooked on them because deep down CeCe’s always wanted a relationship with his mother. So when a woman rejects him, it brings all that anger back from when he was abandoned and he becomes violent and unpredictable. He needs help or he’ll become even more dangerous. Even in prison.”

“You’ve done your homework obviously.” Connie sat back, holding her mug. “What do you need from me?”

Linda clutched her purse. “I just wanted any input you’d like to share.”

Connie sipped. “There’s nothing left for me to say but be careful. I hope for your sake it works out.”

****