I’m Watching You

Chapter Thirteen

Saturday, February 21,

9:30 p.m.

With a wave to the cruiser, Reagan pulled into her driveway, his headlights illuminating another vehicle sitting under her carport. „Looks like you have company,“ he said.

„I don’t think so.“ She never had company. Except for him. „I think the rental car company brought me another car.“ Kristen squinted to see the make and model in the darkness. „It’s a Chevy.“ She glanced over to find him studying her, his expression as intense and expectant as it had been the whole way to her house. There had been an air of anticipation hovering between them that made her jumpy and wistfully anxious all at once. „Maybe it’ll come with a global positioning system just like Skinner’s.“

The corner of Reagan’s mouth lifted. „Couldn’t hurt.“

The silence between them grew heavy and still his eyes held hers. He was waiting. For what she wasn’t sure. Yes, she was. Trouble was, she had no idea how to begin.

„Thank you,“ she said. „I had a good time.“ She really had. She’d met his sister and what seemed like four dozen of his sister’s friends. The kids had been noisy and brash, but their youthful enthusiasm served to dissolve her depressed mood. They’d been curious about the case, which thanks to Rachel everyone knew about, and asked questions, most of them surprisingly pertinent. Rachel lapsed into an imitation of Zoe Richardson so irreverently funny that Kristen laughed until her ribs ached. Then the middle school crowd took over the other half of the restaurant, leaving Kristen and Reagan to talk in relative peace.

Reagan liked art, he told her, and they found they had Impressionists in common. Music was a slightly different matter. He preferred seventies rock while she admitted owning every Bee Gees’ album ever made, much to his disdain. She’d found Reagan’s company utterly charming. And comfortable. And enticing.

Once again he’d held her hand. No one had simply held her hand in a very long time. It made her crave more. And that frightened her even as it beckoned.

„I’m sorry about my sister. She can be…“

„A teenager?“ Kristen supplied and his smile flashed.

„Yeah, I suppose that’s as good a word as any. You don’t have to do her little interview tomorrow afternoon, Kristen. I know she bugged you into it.“

Kristen shook her head. Rachel Reagan was quite the salesperson, she thought One minute she was politely declining the girl’s request for an interview and the next minute she was accepting an invitation to a Reagan Sunday dinner tomorrow afternoon. „It’s okay.“ And she found it really was. „I don’t mind.“ In fact if I’m honest, I’m looking forward to it. „Besides, I can use all the good press I can get.“

Reagan grimaced. „Tony felt just terrible about that.“

„It was bound to happen. It wasn’t his fault the reporters were lying in wait outside. I just wish I knew when Richardson sleeps. She seems to be everywhere all the time.“

„At least, the uniform in front of your house can keep her from bothering you here.“

There was another heavy pause, and Kristen wished she was comfortable with the social words. She wished she could invite him in for tea without making it seem like a big deal. Even though it would be. Her skin still tingled from the sweep of his thumb across her palm. And she wanted him to do it again. She blew out a hard breath.

„I’m no good at this.“

One dark brow lifted, giving him a rakish look. „At what?“

Kristen rolled her eyes. „Do you want to come in for a cup of tea or not?“

His eyes gleamed in the darkness and her heart thumped as she waited for his answer. „Yes, I do,“ he said huskily, and she had the definite impression he was talking about more than tea. „I need to talk to your uniform down on the street. I’ll be right back.“

He slammed the door, leaving her in the dark with her thoughts.

He’s going to kiss you, Kristen. You stupid idiot. Now he’ll know.

She wasn’t mat naive. Yes, he’d try to kiss her. Nor was she a woman to deny the inevitable. Yes, he’d know. With a man like Reagan, all it would take would be one single kiss to expose her. So he’ll know. So what? Maybe he won’t care.

Hah, she ridiculed herself. You really are stupid. All men care.

She sighed. Even a nice man like Abe Reagan would want what she couldn’t deliver. After one kiss, he’d realize she was too cold… Too frigid to give him what he needed, wanted. He’d quickly conclude this wouldn’t work, and though he’d try to be kind about it, they’d quickly find themselves back in a purely professional relationship. Which was better. The sooner they caught this killer, the sooner Reagan would be gone and she’d have her life back to normal. Normal is lonely. Normal is all you’ll ever have. Get over it.

He opened her car door, letting the cold air rush in, a fitting end to the lecture she’d given herself. She looked up at him bleakly. „Any action while I was gone today?“

„No. Charlie Truman’s assigned to night shift. He’s a good cop, friend of my brother. You’ll be safe with him outside. And remember Mclntyre, the guy who took your statement last night? He’s got day shift. You should see him tomorrow morning.“ He frowned. „Kristen, what’s wrong?“

„Nothing.“

In silence he helped her down, opened her kitchen door and flicked on the lights while she disabled the alarm. „I’ll take a rain check on the tea,“ he said quietly. „You must be tired.“

„No.“ The word exploded from her lips, surprising them both. She drew a breath and unbuttoned her coat. Let’s just get this over with. „No, stay. Please.“ She tossed off her coat and busied herself with the teapot, listening to the rustle of his coat hitting a chair, cursing the trembling of her hands when half a spoonful of tea ended up on the counter.

„Kristen.“ His voice came from behind her. Deep and nimbly and soothing. „It’s all right“

No, it’s not all right. She dropped her chin to her chest. „Maybe you were right. I am tired.“ I am so not good at this.

She flinched when his hands covered her shoulders, but his hands didn’t force, they soothed, massaging her shoulders in wide circles that made her want to sigh and beg him never to stop. He slipped her jacket from her shoulders before returning to his task and she could feel the heat of his hands through her blouse as her body slowly began to relax.

You are so good at this, she thought.

„Thank you,“ he said and she realized she’d voiced her thoughts aloud. His voice had gone deeper, huskier, and a hard shiver racked her body, head to toe. For just a moment his hands tightened on her shoulders, then let go, moving up to the back of her neck. His thumbs pressed the taut cords on either side of her neck and her knees went weak. One strong arm came around, catching her just under her breasts and… she let him. Let him support her. Let him pull her against his body.

His very hard body. Hard in all the wrong places. She jerked forward, putting distance between them, suddenly tense again. Without a word he released his hold, moving his hands to her shoulders, starting all over again. Gentling me, she thought.

„Um-hm,“ he murmured and again she knew she’d spoken aloud. „And me,“ he added.

„You?“

„You’re not the only one who’s nervous here, Kristen.“

She looked up at him over her shoulder. His face was stark, almost grim. „Why?“ It came out a whisper and his hands stilled, and for a moment he said nothing.

Then he whispered back, „Because you say you have no family when your father is still alive, and you say you studied art in Florence, but I don’t see anything in this house that you’ve painted. Because you said that victims never, ever forget. Because someone hurt you, and I’m terrified I’ll do something to make you think I’d hurt you, too. Because I won’t.“

But he would. Her heart cracked as she acknowledged the fact inside. Outside, she nodded. „I know.“ Because he wouldn’t mean to. And perhaps because some tiny part of her still wished with all her might that his words would be true.

His eyes bored into hers. „Do you?“ His hands smoothed over her hair and she felt him feel for, then tug a pin from her hair. It clattered to the counter and he pulled out another.

„What are you doing?“ her voice was low-pitched, raspy.

„Taking down your hair. These pins have driven me crazy all day.“ It was a low murmur and sent a new hard shiver racing through her body. His eyes flashed and he pulled out more pins. Her hair sprang free and his hands delved deep, his ringers scraping gently across her scalp. On a low moan her eyes slid shut and every bit of oxygen left her lungs. His hands felt so good, so absolutely necessary.

She’d been driving him crazy. The thought was nearly enough to make her giddy.

One hand slipped from her hair to bracket her jaw and his thumb swept across her cheek, much as it had her palm earlier. She opened her eyes with difficulty, feeling almost drowsy with pleasure. His face was closer now, much closer.

His lips brushed her temple and she stopped, simply stopped breathing.

„There’s one more reason I’m scared,“ he murmured, his breath hot against her skin.

„What?“ She mouthed the word, but her voice never emerged.

„I wanted you the first time I saw you. I want you now.“ His whispered admission shook her, shocked her. She should be afraid, terrified.

But I’m not. Instead she was tempted. Then his lips were on her cheek, scant inches from her mouth. So tempted. All she had to do was turn her head a little bit and his mouth would be on hers. And she wanted to. Wanted to feel the heat of his mouth, to know how it felt to be kissed by a man like him. „Abe.“

He abruptly stilled. „Say it again,“ he demanded. „Say my name again.“

She swallowed hard and somehow found her voice. „Abe.“

He shuddered and the vibration of his body found its way into hers. Sharp little tingles singed her skin, sinking deep, making her yearn for more. Then all thought fled when he moved his head, closing those scant few inches to her lips. His mouth covered hers, hard and soft at the same time, impossibly hot. And she wanted more. She turned her body toward his and in one hard beat of her heart his arms were around her, hands splayed against her back, burning her skin. He slanted his head, deepening the kiss and her arms lifted, her forearms resting on the solid rock of his chest. His hands gently grasped her wrists, urging her arms up and around his neck. Then his hands were on her back again, his fingers pressing hard into her flesh, urgent. Desperate.

And the kiss went on and on and on.

Abruptly he broke it off. Disappointment crashed over her in a wave until he took one of her hands and placed it over his heart. Feeling the wild thunder under her palm, she looked up and knew as long as she lived, whatever happened in the next day, in the next minute that she’d never forget the way he was looking at her. Like he can’t get enough of me.

„I can’t.“ His eyes blazed, blue as the core of a flame and she knew she’d once again voiced her thoughts, but embarrassment was the farthest emotion from her mind. „Feel what you do to me, Kristen. Please, don’t be afraid.“

„I’m not.“ I’m really not. To prove it to him, and perhaps to herself, she pulled his head down for another kiss, this one shorter, but hers. Then pulled back to find him smiling and her heart took a great leap, then tumbled. There was such sweetness in his smile, such ease, such relief. She felt her own lips curve in response.

„I’m glad,“ he said.

„So am I.“

„I have to go.“

Startled, Kristen widened her eyes. „Why?“

His smile became rueful. „Because I want to do a hell of a lot more than kiss you.“

Her breath caught in her throat at the image his words conveyed. It was more than she’d expected, more than she’d planned. „Abe, I – “

He pressed his fingertips to her lips. „It’s okay, Kristen. I can wait.“

She kissed his fingertips and his eyes heated. I can make this man… burn. And she had. She’d felt it in the brief brush of his body against hers as they’d kissed. He’d been aroused. But he hadn’t pressed. Hadn’t pushed. Hadn’t thrust himself on her… Hurting her… And dammit, she was back there, twenty years old and scared out of her mind. Be still. Don’t fight me. You damn tease, you wanted this. The ground was hard and the night was hot and the Ferris wheel went round and round, the lights bright and -

No, no, no. She closed her eyes, drew a breath, and made the memory stop. When she looked up, she could see that he knew. He understood. And he wasn’t running away.

„One day at a time, Kristen,“ he murmured. „That’s what we’ll do.“

We. Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them back. „Why do you care?“

He smiled so gently it made her heart want to break. „Because I like you. Now I’m going to kiss you good night because I have to go.“ He did, a hard stamp of possession. „Be ready tomorrow at four for dinner. Until then, don’t leave the house without Truman, Mclntyre, Mia, or me.“

Sunday, February 22,

9:00 a.m.

It was too cold for many people to be out, but Abe could hear the rhythmic pounding of basketballs and knew some-one in the neighborhood stirred. Hopefully they’d have more success finding the kid who’d dropped the Skinner box on Kristen’s doorstep today than they had yesterday. If anybody knew this kid, nobody was telling. They might have to wait until tomorrow when school was open and ask the faculty if they knew the kid in their picture.

Mia was leaning up against her car, concentrating on tearing the tab off the plastic lid of her coffee cup. She gestured to a second steaming cup sitting on her hood. „Yours.“

Abe took the coffee, grunting his thanks.

Mia shot him a deadpan look. „My, aren’t we chipper this morning?“

„I didn’t sleep well last night.“

„Why not?“

Abe grimaced. Because every time I closed my eyes I dreamed of kissing Kristen until she couldn’t remember her own name, until whatever was done to hurt her was forced out of her mind, until she begged me for more. The dreams had left him hard and aching and lonely. „Just this case catching up with me, I guess. Let’s get started. I want to find this kid soon. I have dinner at my mother’s tonight“

Mia brightened. „Will you save me some leftovers?“

Abe chuckled. „Let’s go, Mia.“

They followed the sound of the bouncing balls to the court across the street from King High School, the name that was clearly seen on the jacket the kid wore in the picture. Five young boys were on the blacktop. All five stopped when they saw them coming.

„Cops,“ Abe heard one of them hiss.

„Snoopin’ around here yesterday,“ another muttered.

Abe held out his badge. „I’m Detective Reagan and this is Detective Mitchell. We’re looking for a kid who goes to King High. Any of you kids go to King?“

The five looked at one another. They all looked to be about sixteen. Not too much younger than the punk that shot Debra. „I asked you a question,“ Abe said, his voice going harder. „Do you go to King?“

They all nodded unwillingly.

Mia drew the picture from her pocket. „We’re looking for this kid. If we don’t find him today, we’ll find him tomorrow when school’s open. If you say today you don’t know him and we find out later you did…“ She let the thought trail off suggestively. „It’ll be better for you guys if you help us out.“

As a group they scowled at each other, and more mutters filled the air. But they looked at the picture, then again at each other.

„You know him,“ Mia said.

One of the boys nodded. „Yeah, we seen him around.“

Abe looked down at the young boy who cradled a basketball under one arm. The young boy stared back, defiantly. „He didn’t do nothing wrong.“

„We didn’t say he did,“ Mia said quietly. „Now, where can we find him?“

The boys looked down at their feet. „Don’t know.“

Abe sighed. „Okay, boys, everybody against the fence. We’re going to call in a couple of cruisers to take you downtown.“

The boy with the ball stomped. „We didn’t do nothin’. Why we gotta go downtown?“

Mia shrugged, her cell phone in her hand. „You’re material witnesses in a murder investigation. Don’t you guys watch Cops?“

„Damn,“ one of the others whined. „My momma’s gonna kill me if I go downtown again.“

Abe kept his voice stern. „Then tell us where to find this guy and we’ll go away.“

The boy with the ball scowled. „His name’s Aaron Jenkins. Doesn’t even go to King anymore. Lives three blocks up.“ He pointed a skinny finger. „That way.“

„There’s a lot of buildings three blocks up ‘that way.’“ Mia pointed in the same direction the boy had. „A little more information would be right friendly-like,“ she added, her expression sarcastic and dry.

The boy’s scowl deepened. „It’s the only building on that block with a green stoop. Old lady sits there all damn day, spyin’ on us.“

„Wears a poky-dotted cap, can’t miss her,“ another added, rolling his eyes. „She’s got the evil eye, y’know?“

Mia’s mouth quirked up. „Thanks,“ she said, then held out her hand to the boy with the ball. „Can I?“

Clearly he didn’t believe she could make it. He pushed her the ball and she caught it with one hand. Then from well into three-point range, she closed one eye and sent the ball sailing right through the hoop. The boys stood open-mouthed and Mia just grinned. „Stay outta trouble, boys, okay? I’d hate to take you downtown for real.“

Abe could hear their exclamations as they walked away. „Where did you learn to play?“

„My dad.“ Mia shrugged. „He wanted sons and all he got was daughters.“

Abe thought that was pretty sad, but let it go. They walked in the direction the boys had indicated, Abe remembering the cold look in Kristen’s eyes the night before when she’d revealed her father was still alive and thought the trouble between Kristen and her father was a lot more complicated than a father who really wanted a son.

„Green stoop, old lady with the evil eye…“ Mia muttered as they came up to the building, where sure enough an old lady with a polka-dotted cap sat eyeing them suspiciously. Even Mia’s best smile did nothing to sweeten the old lady’s grimace.

„This looks like the place,“ Abe agreed. „Let’s cross our fingers Aaron Jenkins is home.“

They found the Jenkins apartment and knocked. A woman holding a toddler on one hip opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight of them. „What is it?“

„We’re looking for a young man named Aaron Jenkins, ma’am,“ Mia said politely.

The woman shifted the baby on her hip. „He’s my son. Why? Is Aaron in trouble?“

Mia shook her head. „We just want to talk to him.“

She looked over her shoulder uncertainly. „My husband is at work.“

„This will only take a few minutes,“ Abe reassured her. „Then we’ll be on our way.“

„Aaron!“ she called and the young man in the photo appeared from one of the bedrooms. He took one look at them and started to move backward.

„We only want to talk to you,“ Mia said and he paused.

„I didn’t do nothin’.“

„Aaron,“ his mother snapped. „Get over here.“ Feet dragging, he complied.

„You delivered a package Friday afternoon,“ Abe said.

Aaron frowned. „So what? I didn’t do nothin’ illegal.“

„We didn’t say you did. Where’d you get the package, Aaron?“ Mia asked.

„From some white guy. He gave me a hundred bucks to deliver the box.“

„What did he look like?“ Abe asked.

Aaron shrugged. „I don’ know. He had a jacket with a hood, so I couldn’t see his face.“

„Was he old? Young?“ Mia pressed.

Aaron huffed impatiently. „I said he was wearin’ a hood. I couldn’t see his face.“

„Was he in a car?“ Abe asked.

„Nope, a van. A white one. Had a sign on the side. Had a little plug on it“

Abe frowned. „A plug?“

„Yeah, like you plug in the wall. Had a cute little happy face on it. The sign said… Banner Electronics.“ Aaron nodded, pleased with himself. „That’s all I know.“

Abe frowned harder. It wasn’t the same van. Mia looked up at Abe, troubled. Then she turned her attention back to Aaron. „How did you know where to deliver the box?“

Aaron shrugged. „He gave me the address, then told me to tear it up, so I did. Listen, that’s all I know.“ He looked at his mother. „Can I go now?“

Mrs. Jenkins jiggled the baby on her hip. „Can he?“

Mia nodded. „Yeah, sure.“ She was quiet until they’d reached the street. „That equipment that sandblasts stone? It can also make rubber signs.“

„Magnetized to stick on a van.“ Abe blew a bream up his forehead. „Dammit.“

Mia rolled her eyes. „I spent hours looking at florists. He’s no florist. That’s why Jack didn’t find any flowers or pollen in the van. He can be anything he wants to be. Shit“

Abe’s cell phone trilled. A look at the caller ID had the hairs rising on the back of his neck. „What’s wrong, Kristen?“

Kristen’s voice was shaky. „I got another box, Abe. Mclntyre’s caught the boy who dropped it off. He’s holding him until you get here.“

„We’ll be right there,“ Abe said grimly, then turned to Mia. „Call Jack and tell him to meet us at Kristen’s. I’ll give Spinnelli the heads up. Our humble servant’s hit again.“

Sunday, February 22,

10:00 am.

„Oh, my God.“ Kristen’s face drained of color as Jack slid the contents of the envelope onto her kitchen table. „It’s Angelo Conti.“

Mia put a comforting arm around her shoulders. „Don’t faint on us now.“

„I never faint“

Abe remembered she’d said the same thing the night they met at the elevator, after he’d scared her nearly senseless. But she’d shown them she was made of sterner stuff and Abe felt pride at her strength. Keeping his distance was costing him, but he knew she wanted to maintain her professional persona. Her hair was neatly tucked and pinned, although the pins he’d removed the night before were still scattered on the countertop where he’d left them.

„There aren’t any Polaroids,“ Jack commented. „Just Conti’s student ID card from Northwestern University. Why?“

„I don’t know.“ Abe reached for the letter. „ ‘My dearest Kristen. Angelo Conti is dead. His crime was initially one of depraved indifference, crashing into Paula Garcia’s car while intoxicated. But his blatant disregard for human life led him to beat the poor woman to death. His father’s blatant disregard for the United States legal system caused Jacob Conti to taint the jury. Angelo Conti walked away a free man, at least until you would have tried him again. But if his original crimes weren’t enough, he compounded them by publicly assassinating your character, and that could not be allowed. I hope his death is a signal to all who would make a mockery of the judicial system and its servants. As always, I remain Your Humble Servant’“

Abe looked up to find Kristen gingerly lowering herself into a chair. „What’s the P.S.?“

„It’s a license plate number.“ Abe passed her the letter and her brows knit in confusion.

„It’s not mine,“ she said. „That doesn’t make any sense.“

„I think we need to talk to the delivery boy,“ Mia said and Abe nodded.

He and Mia went out to Mclntyre’s cruiser where the boy waited in the backseat.

„His name is Tyrone Yates,“ Mclntyre offered. „His parents are on their way.“

„I didn’t do nothin’,“ Yates growled.

„We didn’t say you did,“ Mia growled back. Yates provided a story almost identical to the one told by Aaron Jenkins. Except this time the white van bore the name of a carpet store. By the time the boy was done, his parents had arrived to take him home.

Kristen was making tea when Abe and Mia came back in, followed by Mclntyre. Mia dropped into a chair while Abe paced to the one window that looked out over the frozen backyard. Mclntyre just stood in the kitchen doorway, his young face troubled.

„What did you find?“ Kristen asked.

Abe tossed a frustrated look over his shoulder. „Not a whole hell of a lot.“

Mclntyre shifted uneasily. „About the white van – “

„The florist van?“ Kristen asked and Mia shook her head.

„We think he uses different magnetic signs,“ she said. „The kid from King High swears it was an electrical contractor’s van. This last kid says it was a carpet installer.“

„That’s why I didn’t find any evidence of flowers or pollen on the crates,“ Jack said angrily, smacking the table. „Dammit. He can change the van at will.“

Abe turned from the window, his face sober. „What about the white van, Mclntyre?“

„The night Miss Mayhew was run off the road, I was moving traffic along. People stop to gawk, you know. One of the vehicles was a white van with an electrical contractor’s sign.“

Kristen’s stomach churned. She knew what the P.S. meant now. She grabbed the letter on the table and showed it to Mclntyre. „Do you recognize this number, Officer?“

Mclntyre nodded. „That’s the car that hit you. It had been stolen earlier that day.“

Kristen set the letter on the table, her hands surprisingly steady. „I thought so.“

Jack hissed a curse. „He was there.“

Abe chuckled mirthlessly. „I was probably close enough to touch him. Do you remember what he looked like, Mclntyre?“

Mclntyre shook his head. „He had on one of those hats with the earflaps. Covered up most of his face. It was so cold that night, I didn’t think anything about it. He was very polite, I remember that.“

„Age?“ Mia asked sharply.

Mclntyre shrugged helplessly. „I don’t know. Maybe forty? He didn’t say much of anything, just nodded when I asked him to move along. I just figured he was embarrassed to be caught staring.“

Nobody said anything for a long moment, then Jack stood up. „I’ve got to call my team to the spot on this map. And I’ll call Julia to meet us there. You guys coming?“

„Wouldn’t miss it,“ Abe said grimly. „Let’s go.“

Kristen started to follow, but Abe stopped her. „Stay here. Please.“

„I want to be there,“ she said in a low voice, conscious of the others watching.

Abe looked at Jack, Mia, and Mclntyre. „Give us a minute, okay?“

Mclntyre bowed out instantly. „Got to get back on watch.“

Mia raised her brows, eyeing them with open curiosity. „Okay.“

Kristen felt her cheeks burn. „Reagan, please.“

Jack gave her a hard look. „He’s right. You’ve already had one accident this weekend. I don’t want to see you get hurt.“ Then he followed Mia from the kitchen, leaving them alone.

Abe looked down at her with conviction. „Stay here.“

Kristen felt frustration simmer. „Don’t shut me out. Please. I need to be there.“

His hands rose to cover her shoulders, kneading convulsively. „Do you know what will happen when Jacob Conti finds out his son has been murdered?“ His blue eyes flashed. „Do you, Kristen? If you’re at the site and the press shows up, your face will be all over the news, especially if it comes out that Angelo was killed because he verbally attacked you. Conti will strike out at you, and he isn’t someone you want after you. Please, stay here for me.“

His eyes were compelling, but in the end it was the emotion in his voice that won her acquiescence. „All right. I’ll stay here.“

His relief tangible, his hands loosened their grip. „I’ll be back to get you for dinner.“

„At four.“

He leaned down and covered her lips with his in a hard kiss that left her mind reeling. „Call me if you need me.“

Kristen sighed at the sound of her front door slamming. She’d become accustomed to doing just that. Calling him when she needed him. And in a flash of clarity his sister-in-law’s words made sense. Ruth said Abe needed to take care of her. It didn’t take a psychiatrist to pull the pieces together. Abe Reagan had watched his wife shot and had been able to do nothing. He, a man paid to keep the public safe, had not been able to keep his own wife alive.

Now he’s keeping me safe. And even as the thought brought comfort, she wondered what would happen when this whole nightmare was over and she no longer needed to be kept safe any more. She pressed her fingertips to her mouth, still tender from his hard kiss.

I’ll take what I can get and be grateful while it lasts. But for right now, there was a pile of half-sewn curtains she needed to finish.

Sunday, February 22,

11:30 a.m.

The spot that „x“ marked was a patch of ground fifty yards from the spot Angelo Conti’s car had struck Paula Garcia’s. Appropriate. They found a marble marker inscribed with the names of Paula Garcia and her unborn son. Abe’s eyes stung as he looked at the names, feeling an empathy for Thomas Garcia mat the others couldn’t possibly understand. Heavy silence hung over the grave, broken only by the clang of shovels and an occasional word from one of Jack’s men.

„Ugh.“ Mia’s face twisted in disgust as Jack’s team brushed the dirt away from Conti’s face. What was left of it, anyway.

Julia grimaced. „Your boy lost it this time.“

The body was brought out of the shallow hole with care. Abe turned it gently, displaying a pattern of bruises across the lower back. „Tire iron?“

Julia knelt beside him. „Probably. I’ll have a better idea once I’ve cleaned him up.“

„Conti used a tire iron on Garcia,“ Mia said. „That part wasn’t made public.“

„More insider information,“ Abe muttered. „Wonderful.“

Julia was looking over the body, her brow furrowed in concern. „He went off on Conti, Abe. I haven’t seen a beating like this in a long time. Is he still watching Kristen?“

Abe’s lips thinned. „Yeah. And we still have nothing.“

Julia shrugged, her sigh vaporizing in the cold air. „Look on the bright side. He lost control. Maybe he wasn’t so careful about physical evidence he left behind.“ She gave a nod to her assistant who efficiently loaded the body into a bag and zipped it closed. „I finished the autopsy on Skinner last night. I found blood in his lungs.“

Mia huffed in frustration. „So it was like we thought.“

Julia nodded. „I got pictures of the depressions in Skinner’s skull to Jack this morning. He’s trying to match them up with the particular model of the vise. Skinner’s knees were shattered just like King’s, and the bullet hole to the head was postmortem.“ She pulled off her rubber gloves and pulled on warm leather ones. „Oh, and I was able to make a plaster cast of the ligature marks on Ramey’s throat. Jack’s got that, too.“

„Good work, Julia,“ Abe praised.

„Thanks. Just find this guy before he can send me any more business. I’ve got a date tonight with a three-year-old who doesn’t understand why Mommy has to cancel to cut up dead people.“ With a little wave she headed off.

Abe turned to Mia. „She’s got a kid?“

„A real cutie. Her husband left and she’s been a struggling single mom ever since.“

„That’s tough.“ Abe looked over at Jack, who was watching Julia giving instructions to her assistants as they loaded the body bag into the ME’s van. „And how does Jack factor in?“

„He doesn’t.“ Mia rolled her eyes. „It’s totally onesided.“ Her expression went sly. „Although I can’t say the same for someone else.“

To his own consternation, Abe felt his cheeks burn. „That’s enough, Mia. Let’s get some pictures of this scene. I – “

He was interrupted by a cry of alarm and spun around to see Julia being shoved against her car by a man with silver hair. „Shit,“ he hissed, taking off at a run. „It’s Jacob Conti.“

Jack was faster and was pulling Conti off Julia as Abe reached the car, Mia at his heels. „Get your hands off her,“ Jack snarled and Abe stepped between them.

„Cool it, Jack,“ Abe muttered and Jack stepped back, rage still making him shake. Abe turned to Conti, who stared at him with wild eyes. „This is a crime scene, Mr. Conti. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to step back.“

„It’s his son, dammit.“ Another man stepped up, large and menacing.

Mia pulled out her notepad. „And you are, sir?“

„Drake Edwards. I’m Mr. Conti’s head of security. We want to see Angelo.“

Mia drew a breath. „We planned to inform you of your son’s death under other circumstances, Mr. Conti. Right now, I think it’s best that you don’t see him.“

Conti closed his eyes, his body sagging, and Drake Edwards put an arm around his shoulders for support. „Then it’s true?“ Edwards murmured. „It is Angelo?“

Mia nodded. „Yes, sir. We believe so.“

Conti’s eyes flew open. „You believe so? Why don’t you know so? You – “ His eyes widened further as the horror of reality struck him. „He did something to his face. You didn’t even recognize him.“ He lunged for the door of the ME van, but Edwards held him back, murmuring something in his ear that made Conti stop and visibly fight for control. It was a fascinating transformation. A moment later, a composed Conti turned to a still-ashen Julia and asked coolly, „When can we have his body? His mother will want to bury him.“

„When the ME is finished,“ Jack snapped, but Julia put a hand on his arm.

„I’ll do my best to complete my investigation with all speed, Mr. Conti,“ she said, her voice slightly trembling. „I’m very sorry for your loss.“

Conti nodded stiffly and turned away, still supported by his head of security.

„How did he know?“ Julia asked shakily. „How did he know it was Angelo?“

As Conti’s limo rolled away, Abe’s gaze fell on Zoe Richardson and her cameraman standing in the background, catching it all on tape. Without a moment’s hesitation she approached, her damn microphone in her hand.

„Our own little bird,“ Julia said quietly.

„Our bird’s a vulture,“ Abe responded caustically.

„Bitch,“ Jack snarled.

„God, she’s cold,“ Mia marveled.

Abe stepped forward, his gut churning with rage he knew he had to suppress. This woman had systematically moved events from bad to worse. „Miss Richardson, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to move along. This is a crime scene and you’re not allowed here.“

She ignored him. „Dr. VanderBeck, were you hurt by Mr. Conti’s attack?“

Julia gaped at Richardson as if she had three heads.

„No comment,“ Mia snapped and stepped in front of the camera. „You’ll leave now, Miss Richardson, or I’ll arrest you for interfering with our investigation.“

„But – “

„Now.“ Mia reached for her cuffs and the cameraman lowered his camera.

„We’re going,“ he said, glancing at Richardson from the corner of his eye.

Richardson looked furious. „We’re staying. You’re the ones interfering with my First Amendment rights. The people have a right to the news.“

„I said we’re going,“ said the cameraman and Zoe slowly turned, shock slackening her normally perfect features.

„I think you’re going,“ Abe said dryly.

Richardson looked at him, venom in her eyes. „By the way, where is Mayhew?“

„Out of your reach. Unless you’d like to surrender another tape, you should follow your cameraman’s direction.“ He watched her stomp away. „I really hate that woman.“

Julia straightened her coat. „I can see why. I’m going to the morgue where it’s quiet. I’ll call you if I find anything.“ She looked up at Jack. „Thank you,“ she said softly and drove away, leaving Jack red-faced.

„Maybe not so one-sided after all,“ Mia muttered with a grin. „When it rains it pours.“