by W L Knightly
Raven narrowed her eyes, and he heard the bag she held rustling. Then she held something cool to his neck. “Let me go, or we’ll see how long it takes my dull blade to cut you.”
Bay removed his hands and stepped back. “Well now, Ms. Bishop. Interesting choice of weapon. Do you always carry knives with you?”
The old dagger was long enough to do some serious damage to bone and organs.
“Only when I fear running into assholes like you,” she said. “I’m not one of your fucking victims, Bay. I’m not some little girl you can manipulate and take advantage of.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, lover. Or me. I’m full of surprises, as you’ll soon see.” He wasn’t talking about sex. He was going to shock the hell out of her when Max died in jail. What would she do with herself then? Sooner or later, he’d have them both on their backs.
Raven let out a nervous sort of laugh. “You really do think you’re some kind of fucking god, don’t you? But I know you better. I know you’re nothing but a regular piece of shit like everyone else. I wish that bullet back in New Orleans would have done you in.” She met his eyes while pointing the blade at his face. “If you ever put a hand on me again, I’ll cut you so deep, your children will feel it.”
She had a glazed-over look in her eyes, and she quickly pushed him aside and marched out into the hall. Something in her cold eyes gave Bay chills.
Bay’s reaction was a shock. Somehow, she had managed to make his cock hard. “Impressive.” He suddenly saw what all of those others saw in her, that special fire of passion. He also saw a stone-cold killer.
Footsteps sounded behind him. “Where did she run off to?” asked Eve, standing just outside the supply room. She seemed lost as a goose. “I was going to buy some of her things. It’s hard to find anyone the same size boot like me.”
Bay looked down where Raven had left the bag of clothes and picked them up. “Here, she left these. She said to pick what you like, and you can pay her later.”
She wasn’t the only one. Bay was going to pay back that sneaky bitch, too.
Chapter 23
Darek
Because of the shitshow that Mia’s rescue had turned into, Darek had been at the scene until late in the night. Waking to a new day, he wondered how long his own name could be kept out of the mix. He needed to think of an excuse that could get him out of hot water with Lizzy if it all went south. She’d either believe him, or she wouldn’t.
They still had to find Max’s accomplice. As soon as he got to the station, Darek had Otis Jr. dragged in. Lizzy busied herself down at Dr. Cobb’s office.
Now, Darek headed down to the interrogation room, where Otis was waiting for him. When Darek joined him, Otis had a grim look on his face.
“How much longer am I going to have to sit here?” Otis rapped his knuckles on the table. “I haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t appreciate being hauled down here this early. I have a family, kids to get to school, and work.”
“It says here you’re unemployed,” said Darek.
“Looking for work. Whatever. You’re wasting my valuable time.”
Darek sat at the table across from him. “Being unemployed must give you time to do lots of things. Like take up new hobbies. Do you have any hobbies?”
“I like to work on my bike,” Otis said, shrugging.
“You’re good with machines?” The contraption that had killed Mia must have been a serious project. A little mechanical knowhow would go a long way. Darek leaned in closer. “Do you know who I am?”
Otis frowned. “No fucking clue, man. When are you going to get me out of here? Just because my brother is a fuck up doesn’t mean I am.”
“Your brother was locked up when the last crime was committed,” Darek said.
“Is this about that missing girl?” Otis asked. Darek wondered if he was going to rat Bay and Lane out. “I called that guy back and told him everything I knew. I told him all about Emily’s sister and cooperated. He can vouch for me. I have nothing to hide.”
“You seem exceptionally nervous for a man who is innocent,” said Darek. So far, the guy hadn’t let on that he knew Darek at all, which made Darek question his theory. Then again, Max had been a hell of a liar too.
“My father died in prison after being arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. Forgive me for being a bit rattled by the idea that the same thing could happen to me.”
“Why are you so sure that your father was innocent?” Darek asked.
“He said so. He said he woke up and there she was. He went over to check on her, found her dead. I had never seen my father cry until that moment. And the zodiac, he didn’t even believe in that shit.”
“He had a zodiac tattoo,” Darek said.
Otis shook his head. “No, that was something he got in the fucking military. He didn’t even know what it was. One of his buddies had it on his arm. When he died, he got the tattoo in remembrance of his friend. I think it was like Capricorn or something. I don’t even know. My dad used to say that fortune-telling stuff was bullshit.”
Darek believed him. He almost certainly didn’t have anything to do with Mia’s death. Still, Darek needed to keep pressing to be sure. “The missing girl was kept hidden for nearly a week. We could tell that she was fed, given water, and allowed to use the bathroom, but she was strapped to a device that stabbed her while we were trying to free her.”
“Well, there you go,” Otis said. “My brother was locked up. He couldn’t have been involved, right?”
Darek looked at the man. He looked so much like Max it was crazy. “Your brother had been stabbing his victims and leaving marks of the zodiac, just like Emily Johnson. This poor little girl was strapped naked to a board and carved up like a slab of meat. Then just when she thought she’d have a chance at being saved, she was killed.”
Darek had a feeling Mia knew about the trigger all along, and that was why she started squealing, to try and warn them. If she hadn’t had the ball gag in her mouth, she could have said something, and they could have disarmed the device. Whoever had set it up, it was just like Bay said. They had hoped either he or Darek would find her and trigger the knives. If it wasn’t one of them, the device was still a great way to ensure she didn’t rat out whoever her kidnapper was.
Tears came to his eyes. “Dear God, he’s an animal. What happened to him? He used to be a decent guy. The trial? What happened to our old man? It made him turn sour. He’s evil. I have a little girl myself. I can’t even fathom.” He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. “I’d kill the son of a bitch. He should be locked away forever.”
“I agree with you, and with any luck, he will,” Darek said. “But we’re still looking for whoever helped him. Do you have any ideas?”
Otis nodded. “I told Lane Simon about a girlfriend my brother had. He was head over heels for her. They had some crazy sex shit going on. I’m not into all of that weird shit.”
“I feel ya,” said Darek. He wanted to tell him not to knock it until he tried it, but thinking of that only made him think of Raven. “What was the girlfriend’s name?”
“I really never knew it. Like I told the others, I might know her if I saw her.”
Darek took out the composite of Raven that had been tucked into the case file. “Could this be her?” He held his breath as the man studied the photo.
Otis let out a long breath. “I don’t know. I hate to say it and put some innocent person in trouble, but it could be her. I mean, she had dark hair, petite features. She was pretty, but this drawing doesn’t really do her justice.”
Darek took the photo back and put it in the folder. “So, you’re not sure?”
“No, I’m not,” Otis said. “Sorry. Maybe if I saw a photograph. My brother might have one of them somewhere. Have you checked his house?”
“A couple of times, but we might look again. I’d advise you to stay away from there. The place is locked up tight.”
“No problem there,” Otis said. “I haven’t talked to
Max in over a year.”
“Thank you for coming in,” said Darek. “I’ll be in touch.” With that, Darek got up and walked to the door.
“Good luck, Detective.”
Darek went down the hall, cursing under his breath. That was a dead end.
His phone rang about the time he got to his office to type up a report for his personal use, and seeing it was Bay, he let out a sigh and answered. “Hey, how are you holding up?”
“I’m just fucking dandy. And you’ll never believe who I saw last night, right there at the sex club just like she always was.”
Darek’s blood pumped faster. “Raven is in Nashville.”
“Is she? Because if that’s true, her fucking doppelganger is in town. I spoke with her, though, so I’m pretty sure she wasn’t a figment of my imagination.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s involved,” Darek said.
“It’s Zodiac business. She’s always fucking involved, and you know it. Somehow, someway, Raven’s in the goddamned middle. And let me just warn you now, Darek. If I find out that cunt had anything to do with Mia’s murder, I’m going to slice her open and watch her slowly bleed out, and I just might make you watch.”
“You’re getting pretty bold, Bay. Do you know that?” He knew Bay was capable of all sorts of brutality. The man was crazy and had no regard for human life himself. “If you touch one fucking hair on her head, I swear to God.”
“You better check your girl, then,” Bay said. “I’d make damned sure, Darek.”
His heart was beating so fast, it was all he could hear. Bay’s voice had taken on the sound of a hollow tube. He hung up the phone and forced himself to breathe.
Lizzy still hadn’t gotten back. Even so, he got up and went to the bathroom, where he made sure no one was around when he locked the outside door. When he knew he was alone, he dialed Raven’s number.
“Darek?” she answered.
“What the fuck are you doing in town?” he asked.
“Excuse me? I don’t have to tell you my every move, Darek. I’m not your girlfriend, remember?”
“How long have you been here?”
“A few days,” she said. “Why does it matter?”
“Someone killed Mia, is why. They took her and killed her in the worst fucking way, and I don’t want that to be you. I want you to be safe, okay? Is that too much to fucking ask of you?”
Her tone hardened. “Jesus. Mia? Shit. That’s why Bay was acting so fucking weird.”
“Well, he’s got it in his head that you’re somehow involved,” Darek said.
“He’s sick in the head. He was drinking, and well, it’s embarrassing, but he tried to assault me.”
Darek swallowed hard. “Assault?”
“He grabbed me between my legs and came onto me in the grossest, most foul way.”
Darek’s blood boiled. “Are you shitting me? He tried to fuck you?”
“Yeah. I got out of there as soon as I could.”
“I’m going to break his fucking neck,” said Darek. He was going to drive right over and choke the fucker out. “I’ll handle him.”
“Darek, stop. I’m not yours to worry about. I’m not yours to protect. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m not exactly a delicate little flower who someone like Bay could leave trembling from a sexual advance.”
“You’re a lady, and ladies shouldn’t be grabbed and molested. He’s going to fucking pay for that shit. Did he say anything to you? Anything about what’s going on?”
“Not about Mia. God, that’s just awful. She was so young, and she really tried, you know? I felt bad for her situation, but she pulled through for Bay when it counted. I know he’s hurting.”
“No, that’s not a fucking pass to act like a dick.” Bay had done some low things, but this was the lowest.
“I know,” she said. “I just don’t want you to react this way.”
“I know, baby. I’m sorry I called in such a shitty mood.”
“Darek, you’re doing it again. Look. I know you mean well, but how long are you going to call me up, worried about me? After you’re married to some other woman?”
“I know. Lizzy would have a fit if she knew I called. I just couldn’t help it. I didn’t really think you were back.”
“Sorry, but I’m not going to call you every time I’m in town, Darek. I’ve got to move on with my life. I know I’m the one who dicked things up, but it doesn’t make it any easier to move on alone. Mixed signals do not help.”
She had asked for space before, and he just kept crowding her. But in his defense, she was being accused of murder. But after talking to her, he knew she couldn’t possibly have been lying to him. He would have been able to tell.
“Forgive me, again,” he said. “I’ll try and remember you asked for space.”
“It’s always good to hear from you, you know? I keep waiting for the day that you call me up and tell me you miss me. I know it’s not going to happen, but a girl can dream.” She let out a sigh. “Goodbye again, Darek.”
He did miss her, but he didn’t tell her. “Goodbye, Raven.”
He hung up the phone and then went to the sink to wash his hands. He heard a knock at the door.
“Why is this locked?” called a familiar voice on the other side. “Someone get the janitor.”
Darek unlocked the door and found Darius standing on the other side. “Sorry,” he said. “I needed a phone booth.”
“Oh, well next time, take it to your car. Some of us have to take a piss.” He pushed past Darek and headed for the nearest urinal. Darius had been acting distant since Max’s arrest, and he wasn’t the only one.
Lizzy met him in the hall. “What were you doing in there?”
“Shitting,” he lied.
“Gross.”
He shrugged. “Tell me what you found out about Mia.”
“Sure,” Lizzy said. “She was well fed and hydrated, as we expected. And about six weeks pregnant. I don’t think she knew about it.”
“Fuck. Don’t tell Bay. He’ll really lose it.”
“He needs the truth, and I want to talk to him anyway. We’re about to bust the case wide open with this pedophile ring. Who knows there might be other victims out there, others who deserve justice.” She had that cold, hard look in her eyes that she only got when she was focused on the job. “We have to get this case wrapped up.”
“Give him another day. We have enough work to do without dragging him in and making it all worse. Think of his wife and baby.”
“Darek, if you keep thinking of everyone but yourself, you’ll never get your spot at the FBI. Sometimes, you have to do the hard thing and tell the truth. It’s not always pretty, but in the end, it’s the right thing. He should know everything, and I don’t think he’d appreciate us waiting.” She let out a long breath. “But since it means that much to you, I’ll at least wait until they release Mia’s body. That will lessen the blow, I’m sure.”
Chapter 24
Bay
Waking up with a pounding head, Bay rolled over, hoping to find his nightstand at home. Instead, he found that he’d not only ended up back at his penthouse, but he hadn’t gone there alone.
The blonde beside him had nothing on Mia. Not only was she not thin, not pretty, and not as good in bed, but her personality left a lot to be desired as well. She stirred, letting out a moan that wasn’t going to tempt him in any way.
“Get the fuck up,” he said, pushing at her shoulder. “It’s time to go.”
“Do you want to take a shower?” she asked, shielding her eyes as the morning sun shone across her pale, freckly face.
“No.” His voice was firm, and in no way should it have given her a false sense of security.
“Oh, boo. I’ll blow you if you want. I bet it would put you in a much better mood.”
“Look, Marissa, the beer goggles are gone. You should go before I have to be rude.”
Her mouth hung open like she didn’t understand. “You sure seemed to li
ke it last night.” She got up with his expensive sheet wrapped around her like a toga and gathered her things. “And my name is Clarissa.”
Bay reached into his wallet and threw down two twenties on the bed. “That should cover your trouble and cab fare.” It was about thirty-eight dollars more than the two-dollar whore deserved, but the sooner she left, the better. She had served her purpose, which had been to get him off.
She gathered the bills and her clothes and quickly changed, leaving the sheet on the floor across the room. “You’re an asshole. If I see you at the club, do me a favor and don’t talk to me.”
Bay didn’t bother with a response. The girl wasn’t one of his regulars or a valued customer, and she had no idea he was the owner. He listened to her mumble under her breath as she grabbed her bag and headed to the door.
Once she had the door open, she called back to him. “You weren’t so fucking special yourself, freak.” With that, she shut the door.
Bay was glad it was quiet, and he went to the bathroom for something to take for his headache. Then he texted Rose Marie to tell her he was still alive. How he’d managed to pull off a bender, bag a skank, and forget everything he needed to do was beyond him, but he needed to get on with his day. His phone rang, and he assumed it was Rose Marie, taking the text as a cue to call him. When he looked at the phone, it was a different number, one he had been waiting to see.
“Lawrence Bradford,” Bay said. “I do hope you’re calling me with good news.”
The man spoke in a low tone. “I heard you needed a new man. Wondered if I could get in on the gig.”
“I need someone to be somewhere at a certain time of night. Do you think you could make that happen?”
“That depends on the price. I’ve got a medical emergency and some family issues.”
“Sounds like I could help,” Bay said. “I’ll pay you cash, and I’ll throw in an extra twenty for your kid. You really should start thinking of his future.” Bay needed the man to know that he was in, but also that he better not fuck him over.
