“Friends can worry about each other, can’t they?”
“I guess so.” He shrugged. “There must be something wrong with the men in this city. Why aren’t they lined up to date my gorgeous granddaughter?”
I chuckled at his serious expression. “There’s nothing wrong with being picky, Grandpa. Just so you know, I’mnotinterested in criminals.”
“Well, your grandmother said I stole her heart, so I suppose that makesmea criminal.” He winked, and my heart warmed at his sense of humor.
Grandpa and Grandma were the most loving couple I’d ever met. The memory of my grandmother sparked in his wise eyes. Come to think of it, my grandfather and my father were shining examples of how real men should treat their women. I guess I forgot that when I fell for Dennis. I missed my parents so much.
Not wanting Grandpa to miss his wife, I changed the topic. “Do you need to rest?” I asked, turning onto Etched Square.
The four buildings that made up the area stood like gods, watching over the town. Each building had its own unique architecture. The Kessler Building was the tallest and widest, with twenty floors, towering over the other three, which were all distinctive-looking. From a distance, the Kessler Building almost looked like a work of art. Retail stores covered the ground level, with a massive gym on the second floor.The rest of the building appeared to be office and residential space. Between the buildings were retail strips with apartments above them. I’d seen an ad promoting an open house once. That kind of luxury apartment was beyond my pay grade.
“Don’t worry about me.” Grandpa flexed his biceps. “I’m as strong as a bull.”
We strode by a clothing boutique called Sew It Seems. The sign said they had a new selection of clothes from local designers. I wanted to check that out another day. I didn’t want to bore my grandfather by looking at dresses.
His stomach growled, and he placed a hand over it.
“What do you want for lunch?” I smiled. “We have all kinds of restaurants here. There’s The Laughing Matter, Family Munch, Luigi’s Pizza, India Spices, Thai Cuisine, and Greek Islands, just to name a few.”
“I’ll eat anything,” Grandpa said, glancing around.
As I walked toward The Laughing Matter, a sensation slithered around me. Then my eyes landed on the man who’d just been in my thoughts. Kain was sitting in the outdoor seating, talking to two other men. Normally, the outdoor spaces didn’t open until late April, but today’s warm weather called for it. Kain didn’t see me, so I stole a moment to study him. Attractive and magnetic, I couldn’t look anywhere else but at him.
“The Laughing Matter sounds interesting,” Grandpa said. “Let’s go there.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kain
Outside on the patio of The Laughing Matter, we wolfed down burgers, fries, and a platter of wings.
“Two bodies were discovered in New York last week. Same MO.” Godfrey wiped his hands on a napkin. “The women’s hands were tied together with a rope while holding stems of bleeding hearts instead of black roses.”
Victor Hawthorne’s fascination with black roses earned him the title the Black Rose Killer, with a wide network that protected him from being caught. I never understood his fascination with black roses, but then again, I didn’t understand the psyche of a serial killer.
All of Hawthorne’s captives had a black rose cross tattooed on them. My friends and I were no exception. He’d branded us as under his dominion. We could have removed the ink after the escape, but we kept it as a reminder of our survival.
“Too many similarities.” Hudson leaned back into the chair. “We need to find the killer.”
“It must be more than one person.” I chewed on a fry, thinking. “The murders span several states. He couldn’t have done it alone.”
Back then, the police confirmed that ten bodies had been burned in the explosion. DNA showed Hawthorne had perished that day. Who was this psycho trying to mimic Hawthorne’s evil crimes?
“I’m waiting for some info from the West Coast,” I said, wondering if Newton had anything new for me. “Once I have something, I’ll let you know. I’m also looking into the incident at the Boston Harbor Hotel.”
“I heard about it on the news, but we all know the media picks what they want to share. What happened?” Hudson asked.
“A guy with a cross tattoo on his face is on the run. The cops are looking for him.” I briefed them on the explosion.
“You think he’s one of Hawthorne’s followers?” Godfrey asked.
“My gut says yes, but I’ll need more info to confirm. When Timber gets back, we’ll compare notes about the Bleeding Hearts Killer.”
“Seems like criminals are on the loose,” Godfrey said. “They multiply like cockroaches. By the way, do you guys still have nightmares?”
“Just had one the other day,” I admitted. But when I fell back asleep, I dreamed of Eva, which allowed me to sleep better. I wasn’t going to share what we were doing in my bed.
