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“I doubt the killer is paying a damn bit of attention.” After turning off the television, I crouched by the fire, warming my hands for a few seconds.
“You can’t know that. Most of them want attention, their grand fifteen minutes of fame.” She tossed a file, huffing as she glared at the computer screen.
While I hadn’t been able to gather any additional ‘sight’ from the killer, my instincts had created a heightened level of sensitivity. The killer was close. Too close. “This killer has a special agenda in mind.”
“Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”
“Revenge.”
She inhaled, her brow furrowing. “All right. For what?”
“That’s what we’re going to have to figure out.” I thought about the fact that Stone’s blood had turned up. I didn’t buy the fact he’d had anything to do with the murders. Every aspect of what we’d discovered was tidy and convenient.
“This Stone Keeler you mentioned. Good guy or bad guy?”
I chuckled at the question. “Both but he’s no killer. I would bet my life on it.”
Evening had already settled in, the hours spent savoring every aspect of her body unexpected and perhaps far too indulgent. Yet I smiled as I dragged my tongue across my lips, still able to taste her sweet pussy. Every muscle in my body ached from the rounds of heated sex. I flexed my fingers then clenched them, cognizant that we’d taken far too much precious time away from the case.
I had the same premonitions that I knew Kathleen continued to have. The killer was lying in wait, the next victim on the horizon.
And we had no freaking idea who it might be, but I was certain the kills were for revenge, which meant the wolf was completely cognizant of his actions.
I could feel her utter frustration, sensing her increasing anger in every pore of my body much like her scent continued to filter into my nostrils. I shifted forward, ignoring the growing desire. I was also angry I hadn’t heard a single word from either my father or another councilmember. What the hell were they waiting for, another murder?
Proof.
They wanted to make certain that they didn’t drag any attention to the city, no matter the consequences. While I couldn’t blame them for being cautious, they had to know we were risking far too much. Eventually, fingers would be pointed, even if the cause was more about hiding the truth. I bit back a snarl and shoved down my anger. Cool heads were needed in order to figure out a plan.
I remained hunkered over the fire as she worked, stoking the wood as her fingers flew across the keyboard. Files were strewn everywhere, and we’d gone over every detail, the evidence leading to a dead end, and we both knew it was on purpose. We were nothing more than mules being led down a path. As I studied the flames, I realized just how drawn to her I’d become, and not because of a connection that shouldn’t be allowed by nature. I admired her tenacity and diligence, her verve for life and her strength.
“Ugh!” Kathleen hissed and the sound of her hands slamming onto the desk meant another dead end. “This is hopeless.”
I chuckled, shaking my head before grabbing another piece of wood and tossing it into the fire. “Which part?”
“Everything. Every fucking thing.” She jerked into a standing position, pacing back and forth in front of the computer. “There is absolutely no connection to the three victims I could find. Three completely different professions. Three different areas of town where they live. Hell, none of them even grew up in Denver. Their colleges were different. Different ages. Different hobbies, at least as far as their social media presence indicates. One had a dog, another a cat, and one had been a firm hater of animals in general. Fuck! There has to be something we’re missing.”
“Then we’ll find it.”
“How can you be so damn calm? You tell me that someone is out to kill me, we have no clues on to how the killer might be, and we have a conspiracy involving several respected members of law enforcement and God knows where else and you’re tossing wood on the fire as if it’s no big deal.”
I shook my head as I rose to a standing position, weighing my answer. I walked toward her, keeping my gaze steady. “We keep trying. You’re right, we’re missing something. Perhaps the killer is out for revenge or righting some wrong. Maybe there is another professional connection we haven’t been able to locate.”
“Another professional connection, like being involved with a glee club?” The way her eyes slanted in my direction mocked me. When she laughed, I could tell it was out of frustration. She glanced at her watch, tapping the dial. “We’ve been at this for almost five hours. I don’t know what you think we’re going to find without going back into the field. I need a drink.” She walked to the bar, pulling out the bottle of whiskey. She stormed toward the kitchen, muttering under her breath.
“And you know that’s dangerous.”
“You can’t keep me here, Max. I have a life and so do you. I appreciate your concern, but I’m not fragile.” She rubbed her neck, grimacing before heading into the kitchen.
I waited for her return, moving toward the computer and shifting from screen to screen. Everything was far too clean, the evidence the medical examiner had provided all pointing fingers at a resident within Roselake. It was only a matter of time before her captain tightened the vise.
“I never said you were.” As I closed the distance, she shivered all over as she handed me a drink.
“Why do you have that effect on me?” she whispered the question, her actions more timid than I was used to. She hid behind her drink, taking several small sips.
“What effect?”
“Driving me… crazy.” Kathleen issued another nervous laugh, barely darting a glance in my direction.
