Jack lifted an eyebrow and eyed me over the seat. “Is that your clinical opinion?”
“That’s easily discernible from watching her for thirty seconds. She’s crazy ... and she’s got a really weird thing going with Alexander.”
Jack narrowed his eyes, as if he wanted to ask me a question. I had a feeling I knew what the question was — he was obsessed with me being able to read people’s minds — but he wisely avoided that particular topic. The question was obviously still to come when we were alone, though. “What do you think is going on with Alexander?” he asked finally.
“I think he’s got control over her, and it’s freaky. She’s a grown woman. He treated her like a child ... and she let him.”
“Maybe she has impulse control problems and he had no choice but to rein her in.”
The look I shot him was withering. “That was more than reining in. It was ... embarrassing. If someone tried to do that to me I would melt down. I wouldn’t care if he was my boss. There’s a line and he crossed it.”
“I thought he was a little weird,” Chris volunteered, his eyes back on the map. “She obviously puts up with it. If she had a problem, I think she would say something. She doesn’t seem to be the quiet type. I mean ... she had no problem telling us about Savannah’s issues.”
I’d been thinking about that, too. “I don’t think Savannah had issues.”
“Gretchen certainly thought so,” Jack noted as he navigated onto the highway.
“She’s a judgmental freak. I’m guessing that Savannah was looking for a man and it bothered Gretchen because they’re hunting in the same forest. Gretchen saw them as being in competition and was jealous.”
“Because Savannah was prettier?” Chris asked absently. He appeared to have only one ear on the conversation, which was fine because I was about to start ranting.
“It’s not just about being prettier. I mean ... looks aren’t everything. I like to think personality plays into it, too.”
Jack met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Personality is the most important thing for a lot of people,” he offered, his eyes piercing to the point I felt uncomfortable. “Physical attraction is based on chemistry, though, and looks are often a part of that. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“Jack is right,” Chris offered. “I knew that Hannah was the prettiest woman I’d ever seen the second I saw her. It wasn’t until I’d spent some time with her that I realized we were compatible. I’m sure it was the same for you two.”
A burning sensation crept up my neck at the offhand comment. “I very much doubt Jack thought I was beautiful when he saw me,” I said finally. That wasn’t a word people used when describing me. Cute. Feisty. Mouthy. Sarcastic. Those were words people used. Beautiful? Not so much.
“That’s not true,” Jack countered as he checked the GPS. I didn’t remember discussing our next stop, so he must’ve made up his mind without input. “I knew the second I saw you that you were going to be trouble for me.”
I was confused. “Why?”
“Because I couldn’t stop staring at you and you made me want to hide in bed to get away from you.”
That didn’t exactly sound flattering. “That’s not attraction on a physical level.”
“Oh, I was attracted to you.” His expression momentarily darkened. “I was attracted right away. I didn’t know what to do with the feelings because that had never happened to me before. I was confused, so I decided to keep you at a distance because I figured the feelings would just go away.”
“And?” I prodded.
“And they didn’t, and here we are.” He flashed a warm smile. “I knew from the start that I was attracted to you. That part of a relationship is chemical. You have to get past that part to know if you’re compatible.”
That was an interesting observation, and I filed it away to think about later. “Well, I’m guessing that Savannah had the looks and personality sewn up ... at least more than Gretchen, who looks as if she spends her days eating lemons.”
Jack barked out a laugh. “She does have a way about her, and she clearly didn’t like Savannah. I don’t know if that hate was warranted or if she’s simply crazy.”
“Oh, she’s crazy.” I was certain of that. “She hated Savannah and isn’t sad in the least that she’s gone.”
“She’s the one who told us about the bars where Savannah hung out,” Jack reminded me. “The two reverends were going to sweep that under the rug until she opened her mouth. In this particular case, I think the hate is good.”
Honestly, I agreed with him. “Yeah, well ... which bar are we going to first?”
“Apparently this beach bar was the one Savannah went to most often. Two of the others are on the same strip. The other two are farther out, so I think we should start with this one, especially since the beach grill is close to port.”
“You think someone coming in from sea might’ve seen her at the bar,” I mused. “You’re considering the beach bar as a hunting ground.”
“It’s way too early for that,” Jack countered. “We don’t even know if the other women were regulars at the bar.”
“According to this map, the area we’re heading to is known for the nightlife,” Chris volunteered. “There’s a lot to do other than visit bars, although there are plenty of those to choose from.”
“What else is in the area?” Jack asked. “It’s going to take us about ten minutes to get there. I would like a picture of the area before we land.”
“Sure.” Chris nodded. “Let’s see. There’s a popular hotel, a waterfront park and some famous restaurant everyone raves about called Fleet Landing.”
“That sounds interesting.” Jack winked at me in the mirror. “If they’re famous, they must have good food. I know someone who loves good food.”
“Yes, good food is great,” Chris replied absently, completely missing the fact that Jack was flirting with me directly in front of him. That was one of the great things about Chris. When he was focused on a case, very little else entered his brain. Jack liked to take advantage of that, which always made me laugh.
“This is the historic section of Charleston,” Chris noted, turning serious. “The old slave market was located in this area – somewhere – and there are a lot of museums and nods to the past.”
My stomach tightened. “I didn’t really think about that,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “Charleston would’ve been a hotbed for slavery back then.”
“It was,” Chris agreed. “I was reading a book on our flight here — just general tidbits about Charleston — and it said that forty percent of all Africans forcibly brought to the U.S. set foot on this soil before being dispersed to their owners.”
The notion made me distinctly uncomfortable. “That’s … interesting.”
Chris carried on, oblivious. “City Hall was built by slaves. Gadsden’s Wharf is where slave ships docked, and they believe more than one-hundred-thousand slaves landed in the city there. There’s something called the Sugar House, which sounds horrifying. It was located directly next door to the jail. I guess it was a slave torture chamber.”
The more he talked, the more uncomfortable I got. “Is it still standing?”
“No,” Chris replied. “It’s gone. It was a factory — or I guess they called it a workhouse — and a lot of slaves died there because of the tortures they endured.”
I shifted on my seat and forced my gaze out the window. “I’m guessing the entire city has a harsh history.”
“Any good city does,” Chris agreed.
Jack cleared his throat to get us to stop talking. “I don’t think the city’s history of slavery has anything to do with what’s happening today. We should focus on that and leave the other stuff for another time.”
“You’re right,” Chris agreed, unruffled. “Let’s check out that beach bar. What’s the name of it?”
“Blessed,” Jack replied.
I wrinkled my nose. “That’s a weird name for a bar.”
&n
bsp; “It’s a saying in the south,” Jack explained. “Bless your heart. It’s used as an insult toward people who are idiots.”
“Seriously? How do you know that?”
“I watch Southern Charm,” he teased, grinning. “It’s common knowledge. The bar is reportedly popular.”
“After that, we’ll call it a day and regroup,” Chris suggested. “I want to touch base with Hannah and find out if she discovered anything in regard to the body. I’m not sure where we should be looking at this point.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jack agreed. “The bar shouldn’t be packed, so we’ll know right away if there’s anybody worth questioning.”
BLESSED BUSTLED WITH SO MUCH ACTIVITY I was immediately swallowed by a bevy of tanned and muscular men, all of them offering me drinks.
“Well, you’re new,” one of the men noted, grinning. He was young, twenty-five at the most, and he had a charming smile he wasn’t afraid to beam at anyone who caught his attention. “Did you just move to the area?”
I glanced around for a sign of Chris or Jack and came up empty. Because it was the middle of the afternoon, the sun still high in the sky, I didn’t feel vulnerable. Jack would find me eventually. Until then, I might as well take advantage of my freedom because he was going to smother me eventually.
“I’m just visiting,” I offered, flashing a smile as I glanced around. There seemed to be a rousing game of volleyball on the beach and what looked to be a modified tiki bar serving as a drink station in the shade of an older building. “This place is ... neat.”
“It’s great,” the man enthused, gesturing toward an open seat. “Sit down and I’ll order you a drink.”
“Oh, well ... .”
He pretended he didn’t hear me mustering the words to shoot down the alcoholic option and instead signaled for a waitress. “We’ll have two Painkillers,” he ordered with a smile. “Put them on my tab.”
The waitress returned the smile. “You’ve got it.”
I worked my jaw when he took the seat next to me. The smile on his face was amiable enough, but I was on alert given the reason we were here. “What’s a Painkiller?” I asked for lack of anything better to talk about. I wasn’t the smoothest conversationalist.
“Oh, it’s the absolute best drink,” he enthused, rubbing his hands over his knees. His skin was so bronzed he looked like a tanning lotion model and his eyes were bright against his chiseled features. Before Jack, I would’ve considered him handsome. No one compared to Jack, though. “It’s rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice and nutmeg.”
I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds ... weird.”
“You’ll love it.” He patted my arm. “I didn’t get your name.”
I was uncomfortable with him touching me so I turned my body so it would be more difficult for him to comfortably invade my personal space. “Charlie Rhodes,” I replied. “What’s your name?”
“Liam Walsh.”
“Are you a local, Liam Walsh?”
He nodded, grinning. “I grew up on Drum Island, but I live in the downtown area now. It’s closer to work and more convenient, but I do miss the island life occasionally.”
“Are your parents still there?”
“Unfortunately, no. They passed away and I couldn’t afford the upkeep on the house so I had to let it go.”
My heart went out to him. “My parents died, too.”
“See, we already have something in common,” he teased, grinning. “I knew I was going to like you from the second I saw you.”
I took a moment to glance around the bar, dubious. “That might have something to do with the fact that the men outnumber the women right now,” I pointed out. “I think it looks like three-to-one.” I frowned when I finally caught sight of Jack. He was near the bar and a blonde in a low-cut top was boxing him in. She appeared to like what she saw and was putting the full-court press on him, the hussy. For his part, Jack didn’t look particularly engaged in the conversation. He was obviously going to pull whatever information he could from her. That’s why we were here, after all.
“Do you come here a lot?” I asked, focusing my attention back on Liam.
He nodded without hesitation. “At least three times a week. I’m a regular. This is my favorite bar.”
“And it’s open all year?”
“Yeah. I mean ... I’m not sure what you’re asking.”
“I grew up in the Midwest,” I explained. “Bars like this wouldn’t survive all that long up there because people could only enjoy them a few months out of the year. The climate is much different up there.”
“Oh, right.” He bobbed his head in understanding. “Yeah, this place is definitely open all year. There are a few weeks in the dead of winter where it might not be comfortable to hang outside, but there’s an air-conditioned section that way.” He gestured vaguely toward the building behind us. “I much prefer hanging outside.”
“I can see that.” I licked my lips and debated how to broach the subject of the dead girls. “I don’t suppose you know a woman named Savannah Billings?” The question felt forced, but I didn’t want to linger in this environment longer than I had to. The testosterone was starting to make me uncomfortable.
“The name doesn’t ring a bell,” Liam replied. “Am I supposed to know her?”
“No. She frequented this bar, though.”
“And?”
“And she’s dead. She was killed inside her apartment and she’s not the first in the area to succumb to the same killer.”
Liam sobered instantly. “That news has been spreading fast,” he acknowledged. “Everyone is talking about it. Are you saying one of the dead women hung out here?”
“Apparently this was one of her favorite haunts.”
“The name doesn’t mean anything to me. Do you have a photo? Maybe I saw her and didn’t realize it.”
“Um ... sure.” I dug for my phone and searched through the file information Chris emailed us until I came up with what I was looking for. “That’s her.”
He stared at the screen for a long moment, stroking his chin as he searched his memory. “She does look familiar,” he replied finally. “I don’t think I ever talked to her, but I’m guessing I saw her here. She would fit in. Once seven hits, this place starts hopping. You can barely cut through the crowd.”
“Do you know any other regulars here?”
“A few.” He leaned back in his chair and regarded me. “What is this about? Are you a cop?”
“No, but I am part of the investigation. I work with a private group out of Boston.”
“A private group that does what?”
I shrugged, purposely noncommittal. “What can you tell me about the dead women? There must be rumors.”
“Oh, there are rumors.” Liam turned serious again. “That’s all people talk about. Women with dark hair are dying it blond so they don’t make enticing targets and people are sticking together in groups even though Charleston is considered a safe city. My friends have made a pact not to let the women go anywhere alone.”
I thought of Jack and his overprotective stance. “That’s probably smart,” I said after a beat. I would never admit it to Jack, but I understood why he was worried. “Have you heard anything else?”
“Well, I did hear one thing.” He looked uncomfortable relaying the gossip, which meant it was probably good.
“What’s that?”
“Someone said three of the victims worked at the aquarium.”
I was taken aback. I didn’t remember reading anything of the sort in the reports. Of course, we weren’t privy to all the information because there were multiple police departments working on the case and apparently they weren’t sharing information. “What aquarium?”
“The South Carolina Aquarium. A lot of people work there, It’s a huge draw for tourists. I have no idea if it’s true, but people are saying a number of the women worked there. You might want to check it out.”
“I definitely will. I ... .�
� My eyes went wide when the waitress returned with our drinks. The glass she handed me was huge. “I’m not sure I should drink this,” I hedged.
“Why not?” Liam’s smirk was flirty. “Give it a try. I went out of my way to buy it for you, after all.”
“Oh, well ... .”
“What’s going on here?” Jack pushed his way through the crowd and stopped in front of me. He didn’t look happy when he saw the cocktail. “Are you drinking?”
“Liam bought it for me,” I volunteered.
“Who are you?” Liam asked, looking Jack up and down. It was clear he was sizing him up ... and the way he swallowed made me realize he was intimidated by what he saw.
“I’m Jack Hanson. This is my girlfriend. Any more questions?”
I shot him a dirty look at the proprietary nature he was putting on display. It wasn’t attractive. “He gave me a good tip about the aquarium,” I volunteered. “He said he heard three of the victims worked there.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to check it out.” Jack plucked the drink out of my hand and sniffed it. “This smells good. What is it?”
“A Painkiller,” Liam volunteered weakly. “It’s one of my favorite drinks.”
“Well, I do have a headache.” He smiled at Liam before glancing at me and taking a sip. “Let’s keep making the rounds, shall we? I don’t want to be here all night.”
He obviously wanted me to go with him. I couldn’t blame him. The crowd was overwhelming and it was swelling. Still, I felt I owed Liam something. “Thanks for the information,” I offered warmly. “The drink is great, too. I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, well ... come back around if you’re ever on your own. Leave the chaperone behind, though, huh?”
I grinned. “I’ll do my best. Thanks again for the tip.”
Six
The rest of our group was at the villa when we returned. The leads generated were weak, but that didn’t bridle Chris’s enthusiasm.
“We’re definitely dealing with an incubus,” he announced. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
I risked a glance at Jack and found him — to my amusement — gritting his teeth as a muscle worked in his jaw. He wanted to call Chris on the declaration, but somehow managed to fight the instinct. I felt bad, as if I’d somehow changed his entire outlook on life, and made a vow to talk to him about it.
[Charlie Rhodes 06.0] The Incubus Impasse Page 6
