Seductive Reasoning

by Melissa Schroeder

  “The tattoo?” Del asked.

  She nodded. “It took me awhile to figure it out, because unlike Grace, Susan liked a tat. She had one, on her ankle. Laka.”

  A picture came up of the young woman’s ankle. It wasn’t that easy to see, but Emma made out the word beneath the face that had been inked.

  “Has it started fading?” Cat asked.

  “Yes, but it hasn’t disappeared, which makes me think he had her the entire time from the day she left work,” Elle said.

  “So, the same killer,” Marcus said.

  Elle nodded, as Emma took in her appearance. She was pale, the dark circles under her eyes stood out more. While the rest of them probably didn’t get much sleep, she knew Elle probably hadn’t been home yet. Once they’d finally gotten back to the morgue, there was a good chance she’d been working for hours. Drew kept nodding off in the seat beside her.

  “Indeed. No DNA to prove it, but we didn’t have anything this time either. She was repeatedly strangled, but this time he did not use his hands. He used a rope.”

  “Which you think he used the other times, but for the final kill, he used his hands?” Del asked.

  “Yes, and reading over the reports that Emma sent, they are almost identical.”

  “So, do we think this man hates women, most especially Asian women?” Graeme asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Emma said.

  Everyone turned to look at her.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I think I need to do some more research, because I think this has more to do with goddesses than anything else. If that is the case, it has nothing to do with the ethnicity of the women, but of the goddesses.”

  “That’s actually brilliant,” Elle said. “If he killed elsewhere, we need to look to see the correlation.”

  “It isn’t that great. If so, there is no way to zero in on what may or may not be a connection between the women, it is only a guess on who his next victim is.”

  “Why do you think he killed with a rope this time?” Marcus asked.

  Elle shook her head. “It could be he lost control at one point in the torture and actually killed her.”

  “That would explain why the move up in the date of the murder,” Drew chimed in. Everyone looked at him, and his eyes widened. “Sorry.”

  “No, go on, Drew,” Del said.

  “If he didn’t mean to kill her, that might explain the moved up date. He couldn’t hold onto her, because her tat might have disappeared, since we think he knows something about that. That’s why there was the rush to get everyone to her last night.”

  “Brilliant,” Emma said. “That could be why. This bastard is probably pissed that the storm hindered his news coverage.”

  “Until we announce it, no one here knows,” Del said. “There’s speculation of course, but the press conference isn’t until eleven.”

  Emma noticed a tele was playing the morning news, flashes of her condo, then…the picture of Susan Tanaka with the words Akua Killer splashed over her smiling face.

  “Can you turn that up? What is that about?” she asked.

  Adam brought it up on the big screen.

  “Sources within the HPD tell me that Susan Tanaka is the latest victim of the Akua Killer. Her body was found at Likeke Falls during the storm last night.”

  “Fuck,” Del said. “Adam, call around to your contacts. Find out who the moron was who leaked that. I had that freaking name.”

  “The Goddess Killer, Boss,” Cat said. “I’d like to know who the hell came up with that name.”

  “Reporters probably,” Emma said.

  Elle nodded. “They tend to be the people who come up with the gruesome names.”

  “Well, keep a lid on the fact we have made connections. If the FBI finds out we have more than one string of killings, they will want to step in.”

  “They usually like to wait until he has at least three, although there is no policy on it. So, maybe that’s another reason for three killings. He is hunting for his next woman, or already has her. Then, he will move on.”

  Del looked at Emma. “What?”

  “I said it before. Three seems to be the number.”

  “I’m going to have to hold a press conference, thanks to that reporter.” He looked at her.

  “What?”

  “I’ll have Graeme take you home.”

  She frowned. “I don’t want a keeper.”

  “Part of it is for my peace of mind. The other is because the press might hound you otherwise. Most of them are afraid of Graeme.”

  She snorted. “Okay. The one thing you need to worry about is how she found me.”

  “Why?”

  “That condo is in the name of the corporation my father left Sean and me. My name is nowhere on the documents.”

  “But they could know about you being part of the corporation.”

  She shook her head. “Yes, but she was damned sure I lived there. We own several homes throughout the islands, and actually around the world. There is no reason she would think I was living there. And while I know people in HPD know I work here, it’s not like I am listed anywhere. She zeroed in on me somehow. That theory of a link might just turn out to be reality.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Exactly.”

  He paced the small space, knowing he made a mistake. He had been too fast with this last one. She had not fought like his last few. When she had realized what was happening, she had just given up. And it had angered him.

  Even now he felt the pressure building in his head. Fuck. His skin was crawling with a need. He was in so much trouble, so much trouble. But he could fix it. He knew he could.

  He heard her voice on the TV and smiled. He walked over to look. She was the one he wanted, the one who would complete his trinity of Hawaii.

  All would be forgiven if he could get her.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Emma discovered a reference to a woman found in Greece two years earlier. She didn’t get much because the report was incomplete, but the mention of goddesses caught her eye. She marked the spot, sent it to Marcus, since this was his part of the job, along with a translation from Google. Greek was not one of the languages she knew. Little words here and there, but for the most part, she stuck to Asian languages and the English language.

  After she sent the email, she started to dig further. Marcus could definitely do it himself, but she wanted to find more right now. More information would lead to more links. Links might just take them to the killer.

  She had fought her way through a lot of red tape—meaning firewalls—when her doorbell rang. Damn. If it was that reporter again, she didn’t care what Del said. She would break the woman’s nose if she didn’t leave her alone.

  Emma stomped to the door and looked through the peephole. When she saw her brother, she almost wished it was the reporter. With a sigh, she opened the door. He was frowning at her.

  “What?”

  For a second, Sean’s eyes widened at her nasty tone, and he hesitated. It took a lot to surprise her brother, and she took particular pride in the fact that she had. He shook his head and stepped through the door.

  “Didn’t bring Randy as backup?” she asked, not even trying to hide her cheeky tone. She had work to do and didn’t have time to deal with overbearing brothers.

  “I can handle you myself.”

  “Are you sure about that?” she said, shutting the door. Seeing that she knocked him out too the first time she’d met him, he should be wary.

  “I thought maybe you might want to explain yourself.”

  She blinked. This was not the brother she knew. This was a stranger who thought he could tell her what to do. He was still frowning at her, and there was a hint of disapproval in his eyes.

  “You do realize what you are saying, right?” she asked.

  “What does that mean?”

  “That means that not once since you, Randy, and Jaime moved in together, have I questioned it. Never.”<
br />
  He blinked, mainly because she had raised her voice. She couldn’t control her emotions when it came to Del, but this was another level of frustration. She had accepted Sean and his odd living arrangement with no problem, but he questioned her relationship with Del.

  “That’s different.”

  A tickle of aggravation clawed at her throat. That was his argument? He was standing there questioning her choices in life, and he thought he could because he thought there were different rules for him.

  “Exactly how is it different?”

  “Well…this is about you.”

  She shook her head. “Sean, I know you think you have a right to tell me what I should be doing. Just know, you really don’t.”

  He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. The irritation had drained and was replaced by hurt. She knew he regretted her being kidnapped earlier in the year to get back at him. At the time, the two of them didn’t know about each other.

  “No. Don’t look like that. What happened to me, you can’t make up for that. I can’t ever go back and have my life the way it was. And, there are times that makes me sad. I would love to have had my mother meet you. She’d have loved you. Dad, well, he had mellowed, and I think he would have been very proud of you. Maybe, you two could have patched things up. All of that is never going to happen. While I regret that you and Dad never made amends, I am who I am today because of the sum of all my years.”

  He threaded his fingers through hers. “I wish I had been there.”

  She shook her head. “No. I need you now. Not to tell me what to do, but to be my friend.”

  “Dammit.” He tugged her into his arms and she smiled. The familiar scent of the ocean air that always clung to Sean slipped over her senses. She’d thought she had no one left in the world until he came bursting into her life. Now, no matter what, they had each other.

  “It was just hard seeing that. I mean…you’re my baby sister.”

  She leaned back and looked at him. “Get over it.”

  He chuckled. “Jaime said the same thing.”

  “That’s because she is brilliant.”

  He looked around. “It looks like a research library exploded in here.”

  She slipped away from him. “We have to find this bastard, Sean.”

  “They’ve tried to keep a lot of it out of the press.”

  “Yeah, except that bitch this morning. Do you know how she could have found out where I live? We purposely have the corporation’s name on it.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s a good question.”

  “Del has Adam questioning people. Not many people knew I was working this case, so he’s worried he has a leak. Although, she did see me in the office a few days ago, but I am not a known person. I could have just been his slice on the side.”

  “Piece on the side, Emma. Not slice. And I doubt very much Del would let his piece wander around headquarters.”

  She shrugged. “Even so, that prat had no idea who I was or what Del is like. I just don’t want her causing issues for me to keep working with the team.”

  “You really like doing this work.”

  She glanced at him. “Yeah. It gives me purpose. I get paid thousands more in consulting, but this, I feel like I am making a difference.”

  He nodded. “How about I take you to lunch?”

  Her stomach grumbled just then and she smiled. “That sounds brilliant. Let me clean up and we can go.”

  As they walked back from Sushi Sasabune, Sean tried his best to convince her to go to Japan with them. She was pleasantly stuffed with sushi, but he was ruining her food high.

  “No. I love Japan, but I have too many things on my table right now.”

  He shook his head. “You have too many things on your plate as it is.”

  She smiled. She still had problems with American idioms, but she was getting a little better at them.

  “Right. And don’t think I am unaware of what you are trying to do. You want me to walk away from this case. Not going to do it.”

  He sighed. “I want you safe.”

  “No, what you want is me away from Del.”

  Sean slanted her a look and, even with his eyes hidden from her view, she knew he was calculating another response.

  They walked down the next block on Queen Street, silently. They’d had fun at lunch and again, he was ruining it. She just didn’t understand why.

  “It’s not like it is that serious with Del. You just need to let things play out.”

  He glanced at her with a frown. “What are you talking about?”

  She hated when they got into these discussions, but she knew he wouldn’t let it go. It was one of the reasons he was good in the security business. He set out on a mission and did not give up until it was done.

  “Relationships don’t always go well for me, Sean.”

  “I used to say the same thing.”

  She shook her head. “I just can’t see past today. Not anymore.”

  “Maybe you should. It’s been a year since we’ve known each other. Maybe you need to start looking at where you want to be a year from now.”

  He didn’t understand.

  “Emma?”

  She stopped and looked at him. “I survived because I lived each day and didn’t look for sunlight. I just moved forward and prayed I’d make it to see that. It isn’t in me to trust that people will be around.”

  He wanted to say something else, but he sighed. “Well, I will always be here for you. Just know that.”

  She smiled. “I like that about you.”

  “And I am not just trying to get you off the island because of Del. It’s because of this case.”

  It was her turn to sigh. There was definitely enough sincerity in his voice to convince her.

  “I am not a target, and I never will be.”

  “Why?”

  “First, I was seen with Del at my condo by just about everyone in freaking Hawaii by now. He only goes after single women it seems. Second, we are adversaries, or I am assuming that is the way he sees us. He needs to go up against someone smart, and I am that person. Although, I don’t feel that smart at the moment.”

  “Why is that?”

  She shrugged, embarrassed she had admitted it.

  “No, tell me,” he urged.

  “I can’t seem to find this man. He’s left a trail, but I can’t find him. I should be able to come up with a pattern to give the team, but I can’t. It’s very frustrating.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you get a little...involved.”

  “He’s hurting these women. He’s not just killing them. He’s making their last moments on earth horrible. I have to help them catch the bastard.”

  He stopped and she turned to face him. “Like you say, Emma. Always go back to the beginning. If you can’t find him, it’s because you haven’t drawn a straight line. Step by step.”

  She thought about it, letting his words sink in. Then, it hit her. She needed to find something, some kind of report with a name. He wasn’t always perfect...he had to practice at some point.

  “That is brilliant, Sean,” she said, hugging him.

  “I take it there will be no more discussions of your relationship with Del.”

  “No. I know I need to do some more digging. And you need to go calm Randy, because he’s probably trying to come up with ways to hurt Del. And then I would have to hurt him. I don’t want to see him cry.”

  Sean laughed and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  Del spent the better part of the morning dealing with phone calls. Everyone from the governor to the neighborhood watch folks wanted an answer from him. So, in his mind, it just fit that Sean Kaheaku showed up right about one in the afternoon. He didn’t look any happier visiting than Del was about the visit.

  “Got a moment?” he asked. From the gleam in his eye, there was no way out of the conversation. Being an older brother himself, Del understood. Had someone been flashed on the local news with any o
f his sisters, he would want to talk to the man too.

  “Yeah, close the door.”

  He saw the look from Cat when he went to close the blinds.

  “Afraid of them seeing something?”

  “No, but they are damned nosey, and I feel this should be private.”

  Sean sat in one of the two seats in front of Del’s desk, and waited until he sat down.

  “You want to tell me what the fuck you think you’re doing with my sister?”

  “Not really.”

  “Try again.”

  They had both been Special Forces, so any fight would be a draw probably. The difference, Sean had back up from Randy Young, who just happened to be a former SEAL.

  “Emma feels we don’t have to explain ourselves.”

  Sean rolled his eyes. It was hard not to see his sister in the gesture. They weren’t similar in build, as Sean’s mother had been Hawaiian, and Emma’s had been Thai. Sean was bigger than life, a good deal over six feet, and well built, thanks to his former jobs of Special Forces and security detail. Emma, well, she was delicately built. The eyes, though, they shared the same green eyes.

  “The girl doesn’t know what she is talking about.” His dismissive tone irritated Del.

  “She’s not a girl.”

  Sean’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, I guess you would know that.”

  He drummed his fingers on his desk. “This is kind of hard to take from you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Sean demanded.

  “That you have one of the most alternative lifestyles that exists.”

  He frowned. “Still, she’s my sister.”

  “And you want to protect her, I get it.”

  “That’s right, you have sisters.”

  “Yeah, all three are younger than I am, so I get it. It doesn’t mean I would try to keep them away from a man who loves them.”

  Damn, he hadn’t meant to tell her brother before he told Emma. For a second Sean said nothing. Del took a moment to savor the fact that he had stunned Sean Kaheaku. It wasn’t an every day occurrence. Having been trained in the Army, then by MI-6, Sean was usually at the top of his game.