A Dallas Suite

Chapter Thirty Seven

It still baffles me how some people live. In a city where you have to be put on a waiting list to get an apartment with a balcony, this guy had an entire estate. The trees and privacy bushes around the property made it look like a small fortress. You couldn't see the house at all from the road. I'd never find it if there wasn't a metal placard with the house number screwed into a tree next to the driveway.

I drove down the driveway and parked my blacked out cruiser next to the mint green Jaguar parked in front of the house. I didn't even want to imagine what other cars were in the garage, which was bigger than my apartment.

I used the massive golden lion shaped knocker on the double front door and received no answer. It looked classier than a doorbell, but apparently wasn't that effective. I took another look at the property while I waited. I know franchising an entire dental chain had to bring in some good cash flow, but I couldn't help but wonder how much of all this was paid for by that little drug business Jeff caught on to. It's a shame it all worked out the way it did.

I walked around the house to the back yard. The house was big enough that Sean could easily be inside and just not hear the front door. The backyard was even more impressive than the front. A pool big enough for the neighborhood was the focal point. There was a large covered patio with lawn furniture nicer than what I had in my living room sitting underneath it. A large wooden privacy fence ran around the whole yard, enforced by more trees and shrubbery.

I could see lights on inside some of the rooms in the house. I hadn't seen any motion or people inside. At least not until I got to the rear sliding glass doors and saw the body lying there on the kitchen floor.

It was Sean, and he was still alive. His hands were clutching at his throat, trying to stop the blood from pouring out of the open wound. I moved my eyes up and realized he was staring right at me.

I grabbed my radio, "this is Detective Seeks. I need backup officers and EMS at Singleton's residence. I have a white male with a knife injury to the throat, still conscious and breathing." Sergeant Moore had briefed the station on what we were doing. All officers and dispatchers working tonight knew the addresses we be working on. I didn't need to waste time giving an address over the radio.

Looking at Sean, I knew I couldn't wait. Jeff didn't leave anyone alive. I must have shown up in the middle of the act. Which means he either ran away before finishing, or he was inside the house still waiting to finish. I heard responding officers call out their response locations. They were at least six minutes out. I couldn't wait. If Sean had any chance of living, I had to go in now.