Savvy Negotiator (Untraceable Succubus Book 2)

by Erin R Flynn

  The man nodded to me, holding out his hand. “Ms. Collins, I’m told you’ll be liaising with us, though I’m a bit unclear as to how as I’m getting caught up all around.”

  “It’s a bit unclear from my end as well as they’re using me for the access,” I drawled, shaking his hand. “For now I just want to see the files and the coroner reports and whatever else you guys have. Me and mine can dig where you can’t, and if things fall in your lap, that’s not on you.”

  He raised an eyebrow as he let go of my hand. “Are you planning on committing any crimes, Ms. Collins?”

  I flipped my hair over my shoulder and gave him my best seductive look. “I’m told looking like this should be a crime often, but I don’t think it actually is.” I winked when his lips twitched. “I don’t have your budget problems or limits of people, and my client has deep pockets who believes using her money to help save someone else’s daughter from what hers suffered is money well spent.”

  “I understand. Let’s catch you up then,” he muttered, giving me a heated look since I was still in the hooker dress. “Have you worked a lot of cases like this? I didn’t get much when I ran you.”

  I smirked at him. “I wouldn’t be very good at my job if you did. I hope you don’t mention my name to anyone at all even. And yes, I’ve worked several such cases.”

  He made a noncommittal noise and brought me over to the conference room. “I hope it goes without saying that this information isn’t to be shared and if any ends up on the news, we will nail your ass to the wall.”

  “Only people who work for me, and if it gets to the media, it won’t be from me,” I muttered as I went right for the files. They were pretty thin, and I suppressed a sigh. Yeah, just strippers and hookers so like why would anyone care? Still, I soaked it all up and started taking notes from the notepad I had in my bag.

  Rebecca Cole, first victim, twenty, worked at a crappy strip club like the one I was undercover at.

  Virginia Fisher, second victim, twenty-seven, believed to be a high end call girl but never busted as such.

  Kathleen Ellis, third victim, twenty-one, busted twice for prostitution.

  Pamela Owens, fourth victim, twenty-nine, danced at a midlevel strip club that had been raided for selling more than lap dances.

  Martha Stevens, fifth victim, twenty-five, found with business cards that listed her as a yoga instructor, which they noted was a cover for hooking.

  “Every yoga instructor isn’t a whore,” I seethed, shaking my head. “Even if they do hot yoga or naked yoga, fucking judgmental pricks.”

  “I agree with you,” Lt. Pine said quietly. “They assumed given the bullet that killed her matched the others.”

  I swallowed down most of my anger since it wasn’t actually for him. “Right, or a pimp wanted to bully her into working for him or was making a point just like gangs branching out. There are a lot of men who try to own women in any way they can.”

  “Spoken like someone who’s been in that position.”

  “From the moment I was born,” I snickered, focusing back on the files.

  There had been a ton of trace everything at the scenes since they were medium traffic locations and no cameras, and some were dumps. The bullets matched perfectly, and from the amount of perimortem bruising—done around or at the time of death—they hadn’t been willing to go with him or they had and then realized something was wrong.

  “Holy shit,” I hissed as I looked over the list of postmortem bruising and wounds. “This is one angry fucker to be beating the shit out of them after the bullet.”

  “Yes, and that is not public knowledge.”

  “Yeah, because the media loves salacious details like that which gives the killer the validation and attention they sometimes want,” I muttered, flipping through more pages. “No trophies?”

  “Not that we know, but we also don’t know what was on them,” he answered.

  I nodded. He could have taken anything, and who would know they all carried lipstick that was missing?

  “Okay, thanks,” I told him about five minutes later, standing and closing what I was looking at.

  “That’s it?”

  I nodded with a yawn. “Yup. You guys have next to nothing. You don’t even have full vic profiles. Nothing. Not so much as a credit pull. You have complete coroner reports that were helpful, but that’s it.”

  “You can do better?” he asked, his eyes simmering at my criticism even if it hadn’t been his case until now. I was still bashing the boys in blue.

  “I can do better by morning,” I told him firmly. “I’ll get you better if you let me into their places tomorrow.”

  “Fine, let’s see what you got. Two?”

  “Text me the address,” I agreed before heading out. I couldn’t blame him, but he also wasn’t worth much if he could defend that bad of policework. In other words, I had no idea what to make of them yet.

  I was sure the feeling was mutual.

  8

  “As promised,” I greeted Lieutenant Pine the next afternoon as I handed him several file folders. “You have a range of credit histories and current finances. All were single according to their social media profiles and for at least the past two months. None alluded to anything romantic. One was interviewing to change clubs, the other was going to night school. You have all over the map on who they were. Blonde, brunette, two fake blondes, and a fake redhead.”

  “Ages between twenty to thirty,” he muttered, and I nodded. “And either stripper, hooker, or something leaning towards hooker like that caught the eye of the killer. That’s it. Fuck.”

  “Still gives us more to dig on,” I reminded him as I took the gloves he offered. I was pretty furious to hear next to nothing had been done with any of the residences, but even Kyle had told me Denver PD lab was behind on everything because of some budget cuts, so it wasn’t prejudice. They just didn’t have the resources and staff.

  Whatever, at least I was getting in at the beginning then, right?

  Rebecca Cole’s apartment was a tiny shithole. The landlord was throwing a fit at the cops not coming to clean up yet and having him hold the apartment. Sweet guy like that, but she had no family to push it either unlike other murder victims. Sad but true. Those who got in faces and pushed were handled before those who had no one to fight for them.

  “Picture doesn’t match up,” I muttered after two minutes of glancing around.

  “How so?”

  “Shitty apartment, crappy credit with only a few maxed out cards with small limits, and working a shit club.” I moved closer to the table and pointed to the brand new iPad. “So who got this? Or the sixty inch TV over there? Really? That here?” I moved on to her closet since it was just a studio and wasn’t much to check out. I whistled when I saw what she had. “New dress that’s a few grand from that designer.”

  “That pimp you drew out last night is going away for a while,” he told me as I took some pictures with my phone of things I wanted my team to check on.

  “Oh yeah?” I asked, having totally forgotten about that already.

  Lack of sleep and too much work would do that.

  “Yeah, that gun was used in an armed robbery where he shot someone, and a lot of drugs and other guns were found in his house. It was a good score for vice.”

  “I’m glad,” I muttered as I squatted down and opened her nightstand drawer.

  “You don’t care about the credit or spotlight, do you?” he asked as he moved behind me.

  “Nope. I care about the victims who can’t fight anymore or don’t have the family to make the stink others can.” I pushed a few things around and pulled out a few smaller baggies of pot. Not interesting in a state or area where it’s legal, so I put them back. The second drawer was a bit more interesting. “She’s got a gun. Looks new. Why would that be?”

  “It’s not hard to get in Colorado,” he muttered as he leaned in. “Shit at her club? Someone telling her to start working the streets?”

  �
��Something that made her afraid,” I agreed. “She was the one interviewing at a new club. I want a better picture of all of them, and then I’ll dig in on that club, see what’s there like I’m looking to switch.”

  “Why tell me?”

  “Because it’s a good plan, and I’m not going to hide shit from you. I want the killer caught. Us working against or without each other doesn’t make that happen.”

  “Fair enough,” he agreed.

  We finished up, and he called it in that the team could get it all boxed and cataloged so we had it for reference or whatever. The landlord showed as I waited, anger in his eyes as he stormed over to us.

  “Can I finally rent the place?” he demanded.

  “A girl is dead, and you’re worried about renting the place?” I snapped.

  “Like I give a fuck if one bitch dies,” he sneered. “I’m losing rent on the place.”

  “You’re keeping her security deposit, so don’t give me that, asshole,” I shot right back.

  “Police can’t talk to me like that,” he growled.

  “I’m not the police,” I purred, gesturing over my shoulder. “He is. I can talk to you however I want.” I moved closer when he opened his mouth. “You own a gun?”

  “What?” he asked, doing a double take.

  “You have some disdain for women and a lot of anger. You got anything against strippers?”

  He snorted. “Just the ones who don’t do what they should.”

  “Oh? What should they do?”

  He frowned. “Be naked. That’s what strippers do.”

  “No, they don’t. They dance for you. You want naked women, watch porn.”

  “Whatever, like you know, bitch.”

  I was going to argue, but honestly, what would be the point. “You didn’t answer the question. Do you own a gun?”

  “I don’t have to answer to you. You just said you ain’t a cop.” He narrowed his eyes at me, daring me to argue or change my story.

  I studied him. He didn’t kill her. His desire right then was he’d gotten a chance to bang her.

  “You have to answer me, and I suggest you tone down whatever attitude you’ve got going on here,” Pine said firmly as he joined us.

  The landlord looked him over and gave a nod. “Yeah, I’ve got a hunting rifle that was my gramp’s. It’s in the garage and hasn’t been fired since he was alive. Can I rent out this place yet or what?”

  “We’ve got people coming to clean it out and bag the evidence today. I apologize for the delay, and I appreciate your patience.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “But I would suggest you fix the dozen violations I saw of renter laws before you sign another lease because I think I might come back and check on the new renters, and if I find them still wrong, I’ll haul your ass into jail for a while.”

  “Yeah, I’ll get my guy to look it over,” he agreed and stormed out like he’d stormed in.

  “Shit, I seriously just got turned on,” I admitted, giving Pine an appreciative look. “I love a man who uses his power for good.”

  He chuckled, shaking his head as he held up his left hand. “Thanks, but I’m happily married.”

  I smirked at him. “Yeah, I noted that last night. That’s why teasing you is fun.”

  He burst out laughing, and I liked Pine a lot better after that. We agreed to check out the next place tomorrow since the team wouldn’t be ready for it yet anyways.

  “And since you’re not working with vice tonight?” he muttered as we reached our vehicles.

  “I’m hitting a club with a new dancer friend and hope to get some insight into the Denver scene. The range is too big on these murders. It feels… Off.”

  “Yeah, it’s like someone playing Goldilocks and wanting something just right,” he agreed.

  I bobbed my head. “You might have something there.” I said goodbye and headed back to my apartment, taking the portal and immediately digging in. I sent those pictures I wanted follow ups on to Lewis along with tasking them to start getting me a map. I wanted to see where they’d lived, worked, and murder spots all on one map so maybe some picture could start to form.

  Someone brought food, and I felt like I blinked and I was running late to get ready to meet Jade. Shit. I raced out of there and showered, not having done that since my workout, which was gross. I picked out an ultra sexy, black, two piece dress and did my hair in thick braids that fed into each other so the color was awesome.

  Honestly, I really liked the rainbow hair. It was hot.

  I slid on some silver heels, changed over what I needed to a clutch, grabbed a jacket, and was out the door. I drove over to the club, finding her in the parking lot so we could go in together.

  “Greg’s working the door,” she told me when I brought out my jacket.

  I nodded and locked my jacket in the car, hurrying over to her. “Sorry, got caught up in something.”

  “You were a whole two minutes late, but I appreciate a friend that values my time,” she replied with a smile. “And who looks so hot.”

  “You too,” I praised, eyeing her over. She was wearing some skin tight number that was mostly sheer and would set any man’s blood on fire. “Damn, girl.”

  “Greg’s cute,” she muttered, giving a shrug.

  Okay, I was down with that. I nodded that I heard her and wouldn’t go near him.

  Greg waived us right over, shooting a nasty look at the people in line who bitched.

  “My hero,” Jade teased him, kissing his cheek.

  “When are you off next?” I asked him, Jade not hiding her shock well.

  “Sunday, why?” he asked.

  “I was telling Jade I’m making a killing at being a sushi model at a private party and she should get into it, but she’s a bit nervous,” I explained. “I promised her if she can do it with someone she trusts, strangers are nothing.”

  He gave Jade a quick but heated look. “I’m not good with chopsticks, but I’d help you with whatever you need.”

  “Yeah, okay, thanks,” she muttered, messing with her hair. “You never come watch me dance, so I didn’t know if you would do it.”

  He opened his mouth but then closed it, people getting pushy in line. “I’ll call you.”

  I bit back a smile as I felt his desire. He was worried that once he saw her topless, he would beat anyone who ever pawed at her and would beg her to be with him. I waited until we were further into the club. “He’s into you.”

  “You’re evil,” she grumbled. “I mean, really, naked sushi? Shit, that sounds like a disaster.”

  “It sounds like he’ll be eating you before he can set it all up,” I drawled. “You guys aren’t going to have a normal first date since you’re friends. Move on it because he’s got a lot of admirers from the looks people were giving him in line.”

  “Yeah, so why would he want a stripper?”

  I grabbed her arm when she turned away. “Hey, you’re a dancer and gorgeous. Fuck if you do it topless or whatever. Our form of entertainment is no different than any other type. And it’s not bad for the liver like alcohol. Don’t talk about yourself like that because he sure as fuck didn’t look at you like just a stripper.”

  “Thanks,” she sighed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “I’ve given him several signs I was interested and he never bites. I was starting to think it’s the job.”

  “I think men are dense and you have to hit them hard upside the head to make them understand much.” I swallowed down my own feelings about two men who had just proved that point recently. “Let’s go get drinks and you can bring him a bottle of water because he looked thirsty. Offer to let him out of it if he doesn’t want to see you naked and watch how fast he trips over himself because he wants to.”

  “Okay, but if he doesn’t, I’m getting drunk and you get to take me home instead.”

  “Deal,” I chuckled, shaking my head at her antics.

  We ordered our drinks, and hers was done first along with the bottle of water. I waved for h
er to go ahead as I waited for my drink and to pay. My good deed was rewarded by the deep Egyptian blue eyes I met from the dark elf that brought my drink.

  I took in a long, deep breath as every nerve in me flared to life as our fingers touched while I accepted it. I stayed away from supes—and for good reasons—but certain dark elves were like my catnip and drug of choice. His nostrils flared, feeling the same as I did as my body reacted, my nips getting hard as I felt wet. He licked his plump lips as he focused in on my breasts as if checking my reaction before meeting my gaze again.

  “I’ve never seen you here before,” he said as he leaned in, not letting go of the drink. “On the house if I get the honor of such a gorgeous woman telling me her name.” His deep voice and highbrow British accent doing things to me that I bet most women felt over his voice.

  “Acadia, and you?”

  “Owen,” he murmured as his desire hit me hard. He wanted me so badly, like he’d not wanted a woman in a long time. “You are—”

  “Human,” I breathed at a volume others wouldn’t hear so he didn’t blow my cover. “And new to Denver. My friend knows the doorman, and I have the night off.”

  “I’m so very glad you did,” he replied.

  I was about to ask him when he got off when someone interrupted us.

  “Hey, boss, where you want the new stuff?” a different employee called over.

  I instantly pulled away, the spell broken. “You own the place?” That was a big no-no when we were coming into an area. We might sell sexy fun and even sex where it was legal, but there was a firm line against bringing sex into business, and these clubs would soon be our competition.

  “He calls me that because I trained him,” he chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Load a case here and the rest in the back cooler.”

  I thought I believed him, but elves were hard to read. Not just for lying but overall, which I thought was part of why I liked them. For me to have felt his desire like that meant he really, really wanted me.

  And I really wanted him. Fuck.

  “Can I thank you for that drink?” I purred, leaning in again. “Can you take a break?”

  His nostrils flared, and I felt his body react. I might not be a lust demon, but I always knew when people were experiencing lust after all. “Yeah, I can take a break. Let me show you the office.”