Don’t think that way.You don’t know that Cox is involved.It could be someone copying his methodology and have nothing to do with you.
“Gotta warn you,” Thompson warned, pulling half onto the lawn of a well-kept family home.“It’s pretty gruesome in there.We have a dead man murdered very violently after getting caught sleeping with a woman other than the one he exchanged vows with.”
“I doubt it’s worse than what we’ve seen before,” Kate replied.
A young woman with dyed blond hair and a generous helping of makeup—most of which was smeared across her face—stood in front of the house flanked by two burly officers.She wore a halter top and a pair of shorts too short to be comfortable in anything short of desert heat.
She had a body that made that outfit look good.Irresistible even.Kate had an uncomfortable recollection of the one-time she’d met Cheryl, when Marcus was in the hospital after apprehending a particularly dangerous criminal.This woman had that same almost supernatural ability to look breathtaking, even when she was in the middle of deep anguish.It was no surprise their victim found her irresistible.
Kate didn’t love that she had that thought, but it wasn’t her fault that so many men were so easily swayed by a hot woman wearing almost nothing.The officers appeared just as easily affected.One of them had a hand on her shoulder, and both were looking anywhere but her eyes.
Kate rolled her eyes and approached the weeping woman.“Good evening.I’m Special Agent Kate Valentine.This is my partner, Special Agent Marcus Reid.Can you walk us through what happened?”
The woman looked up at her.Her lips were doing a little dance, rippling with emotion.Her moist eyes shone a bright blue and looked directly at Marcus.The beseeching in her eyes disgusted Kate.Try not to look like that much of a stereotype, yeah?
The woman sniffled.“I… I was with Donald.We were…” She flushed.
“You were engaged in sexual activity,” Kate said bluntly.
She nodded.“And she… she…”
Her lips danced again.Kate took a deep breath, but before she could press for more information, Marcus put a hand on her shoulder.He smiled tenderly at the woman and said, “Hey, it’s okay.We’re here to help.”
She reacted like a whipped dog being given a treat for the first time.She looked at him, heaved a sigh, then offered a watery smile.“Sorry.It’s just a lot.”
“I understand,” Marcus said tenderly.If Kate didn’t know any better, she would think he was just as affected by the slutty damsel in distress act as the other men were.
But you do know better, and you’re letting your personal feelings interfere.So, calm the hell down and let Marcus do his job.
Kate pursed her lips and stayed quiet.
“What’s your name?”Marcus asked.
“Cynthia.”
“Nice to meet you, Cynthia.Can you tell us what happened?”
Cynthia nodded.She took a deep breath, then said, “I was with Donald.I was giving him a… We were…”
“Those details aren’t important,” Marcus said.“Tell us what happened after.”
Cynthia’s lips danced again.She nearly broke down, but she met Marcus’s eyes, took a deep breath and powered through.For you, Marcus,her eyes said.“She came home and caught us.When she saw us, she started shouting at him.I started getting dressed to leave, but he tried to getherto leave.They were blocking the door, and I couldn’t go, so I watched while she… She…”
She hesitated again and reached for Marcus’s hand.Kate had to bite her lip when Marcus put his other hand on top of hers.
“She grabbed a kitchen knife and started chasing him, shouting Bible verses.She chased him to the door, and somehow got in front of him.Then she… She…”
Cynthia finally broke down again.Not even the gentle presence of the dashing FBI agent could prevent her from bursting into tears.
Detective Thompson cleared his throat and gestured with his head toward the house.Kate frowned.“We’re interviewing a person of interest.”
“She’s not the killer,” Thompson assured her.“We’ve got another witness who saw another woman leave the house covered in blood.”
That was a good point, actually.There was no blood on Cynthia.She could have cleaned up, but if she did, she’d done a great job making everything else about her look dirty, and not just in a sexual way.
Kate pressed her lips together and stepped closer so Cynthia wouldn’t hear.“Until we know for sure, I want her watched.If she’d released, then I want officers watching to make sure she doesn’t flee the area.”
Thompson frowned.“I told you, it’s not her.”
