Crime & Passion

by Chantel Rhondeau

  Madeline locked the deadbolt and leaned against the hallway wall, blowing out a breath. Now she had to deal with Donovan. It stung a bit that he was right about Brandon, at least partially. Brandon never had wanted to date her, but at least he wasn’t just trying to get a story either.

  Madeline straightened her shoulders and walked into the living room. Donovan sat on the couch, a brown bag on the coffee table in front of him.

  He glanced up. “I need your keys, Maddie.”

  Madeline ground her teeth together, trying to keep a hold of her temper. No matter how many times she told him otherwise, he continued to call her Maddie. He was either cocky or stupid.

  She palmed her keys and glared at him. “What for?”

  Donovan stood, grabbing a canister out of the sack before he walked toward her. He handed it to her, plucking the keys from her other hand. “I bought some tea. It’s Silver Needles or something like that. It was expensive, but the kid at the shop said you’d like it.”

  Madeline looked at the container, wondering what Donovan was about. He really was the most infuriating man. “Why are you here? I thought we cleared everything up tonight at the restaurant.”

  “Oh, come on,” he said, bumping his hip against hers gently. “The least you can do is offer me tea before throwing me out.”

  Her betraying body ignited with fire at the nearness of him, but Madeline stepped away. Don’t forget girl, he slept with every woman in town. Who needs a man-whore like that?

  Madeline walked to the kitchen and filled the teakettle with water. She read the instructions on the label and opened the canister. A rich, fruity smell wafted from the can. Madeline sighed as she leaned against the counter, waiting for the water to heat.

  She had to admit, it was a thoughtful gift. Considering Donovan obviously knew nothing about tea, it was nice he made an effort to impress her.

  In her pocket, Madeline’s cell phone played her favorite 80’s song. She pulled it out, not recognizing the number. “Hello?”

  “Madeline Scott?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is Officer Eric Sanders from the Pleasant View Police Department. How are you tonight?”

  Funny. Donovan said he was here on official business, so why was his partner calling her? “I’m fine, Officer Sanders. Can I help you?”

  “Chief asked me to call and see if you would mind coming to the station tomorrow.”

  Madeline’s heart clenched. Donovan said she wasn’t truly a suspect. Did they change their minds? “Can I ask why?”

  “Nothing to worry about, Miss Scott. Chief wants you to go over some pictures, see if anyone looks familiar. Sorry I’m calling you so late to set this up, but Chief has a friend who is a sketch artist, and she’ll be in town tomorrow. He hoped you’d be willing to work with her a bit.”

  Madeline added several teaspoons of the leaves into the bottom of a ceramic teapot before pouring in hot water from the kettle. “I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but I’m willing to try.”

  “Great. Could you come in tomorrow around eight-thirty?”

  Madeline opened the cupboard door and pulled out two china cups and saucers to set on the service tray. Since it was an expensive tea and a gift, she felt it more appropriate to use teacups instead of the mugs she normally used. “I have to work tomorrow morning at Woofy Cuts between seven and nine,” she answered. “Would it be okay if we meet at nine-thirty instead?”

  “Sure. I’ll let the Chief know and call the sketch artist.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Good night, Miss Scott.”

  Madeline set the phone on the counter and checked the clock. The tea had steeped four minutes and should be done. She poured a small amount into her cup and sipped it. The sweet taste of peaches and apricots exploded on her tongue and Madeline sighed with pleasure. She fished the leaves out of the pot with a strainer and placed a cozy over the teapot, setting it on the tray.

  “I hope you’re ready for this,” she called into the other room as she walked slowly from the kitchen. “The kid at the shop knew what he was talking about. This is delicious.”

  She rounded the corner to see Donovan fiddling with her window. “What are you doing?” she asked, setting the tray on the coffee table.

  “All your windows are unlocked.” Donovan joined her, sitting on the couch. “Even the ones in your bedroom.”

  Madeline’s hand shook slightly as she poured the tea and liquid spilled down the outside of the cup. Who did he think he was? “You were in my room?”

  He nodded. “I locked those windows.” A grin flashed across his face as he picked up his teacup. “I knew you were really a lavender girl when I first met you. So much purple in that room.”

  Madeline tipped her head to the side. “It’s not surprising you’re good at reading women. Why else would they sleep with you? Every con artist has to convince his mark he has what she needs.”

  Donovan snorted his drink and lapsed into a coughing fit. “Come on, Maddie. That just ain’t fair,” he said once he was able to speak. “I know you heard bad things about me from Lindsey today, but be logical. Wouldn’t it have been worse if I married her and then broke things off?”

  Probably, but she wasn’t about to agree with him. She inhaled the lovely bouquet of the tea and leaned back in her chair, taking a sip. “Why are you here? I know it’s not ‘official business.’ I talked to your partner on real official business a few minutes ago.”

  He shrugged. “I lied to get rid of Brandon, and so you’d let me in the house.” He picked her keys up off the table. A black cylinder now hung from the ring. “Also, I wanted to make sure you had this.”

  He handed the keys over, and Madeline saw the red spray nozzle on the end of the small canister.

  “Be careful with that,” he cautioned. “It’s pepper spray. One shot to someone’s face, and you’ll have plenty of time to get away and find some help.”

  A chill swept through Madeline. Perhaps her mom was right about the foolishness of moving to California. “You think I need this?”

  Donovan leaned forward to take her free hand in his. “You live alone, and you walk dogs in the morning and evening all by yourself.” He paused, his blue eyes seeming to assess every feature on her face. “That bastard you dated tonight made sure everyone in town knows you’re a dog walker and that you found the body moments after Frank’s death, likely seeing the murderer.”

  Madeline’s heart beat erratically in her chest. She’d been trying to forget that, ever since Lindsey brought it up earlier in the day. Even though she believed Brandon didn’t mean to put her in danger, he probably had.

  “What about my windows?” she asked, trying to control her shaking. Donovan’s warm hand felt comforting over the top of hers, steadying her somewhat. “I live on the seventh floor. You don’t actually think I’m in danger that way, do you?”

  He shook his head, the silver streaks glinting at his temples. “Probably not. But you have to admit, it was a good excuse to check out your bedroom.” He squeezed her fingers in his. “I told you I’m interested. I meant it.”

  Madeline snatched her hand from his. What does he think, if he scares me half to death and then protects me, I’ll magically fall into bed with him?

  “How long will your interest hold?” she asked, rising from her chair. “My guess is only as long as it takes to be satisfied under my lavender comforter.”

  “You’re listening to gossip and rumors.” Donovan tipped back his teacup, finishing the drink in one gulp. “Don’t you want to know the truth, Maddie?”

  It was one Maddie too many.

  She walked to the front door and flung it open. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  He sighed and stood up, pacing toward her with a predatory grace. He crowded out all the available space as he neared her, but Madeline stood her ground. Her skin prickled with the nearness of him as he stopped next to her in the short hallway.

  “Are you sure
you want me to leave?” He pressed his body against hers, backing her against the wall. “I have experience with women, Maddie, and they’re always very satisfied.”

  “Then go harass one of them. I’ve had enough,” she said, infusing as much ice as she could into her voice. “That is, if you can find one dumb enough to fall for your act.”

  “Brrr.” He shivered visibly. “It’s a bit cold in here. I’m beginning to understand why a beautiful woman like you is still single.”

  She watched as he stepped past her into the hallway. He couldn’t know her fiancé cheated on her, but attacking her for her single status was more hurtful than anything else he might have said.

  “Have fun,” she shouted after him as he walked down the hallway, blinking back her tears. “If you hurry, you might get back to your dinner date before her bedtime.”

  He turned to face her, and a look she didn’t understand shadowed his eyes.

  “Just keep that pepper spray handy, Madeline. I hope you never need it.”

  Chapter Five

  Madeline unlocked the door to Woofy Cuts, stifling a yawn. The cheery bell Lindsey placed above the door greeted her as she entered. Early morning sunlight barely penetrated the gloom of the shop. She rushed to the alarm to turn it off.

  That’s strange. The alarm wasn’t beeping, and the green light shone steadily. Lindsey said she would check on Brutus and walk him around eleven o’clock last night. Madeline had a hard time believing she didn’t set the alarm.

  Then again, Lindsey used her birthday as the code—not exactly hard to crack. Madeline shuddered, wondering if Donovan was right to worry about her safety.

  A shuffling sound from the right-hand side of the store caught her attention. Madeline cocked her head to the side, holding her breath as she listened intently. Silence.

  It’s just my imagination running wild because of what Donovan said...I hope.

  She gripped the pepper spray attached to her car keys, pressing her back against the wall before flipping on the light switch. When no one jumped out of the shadows, she allowed herself to breathe again. Still, perhaps he wanted the element of surprise and hid, waiting to attack her once she let her guard down.

  As quietly as possible, she crept past the customer seating area toward the shelves holding pet supplies. The middle row was the only place to hide. Madeline’s heart hammered in her chest and her hands shook.

  She tried to calm her erratic breathing. If someone waited on the other side of the shelf, he likely heard her ragged breaths. She’d have to surprise him by doing the unexpected.

  Madeline sent up a quick prayer she wouldn’t drop the keychain and leapt forward to the row of shelves, discharging a preemptive strike with the pepper spray. The foamy substance flew through the air to land in the empty aisle.

  “Great shot, Rambo.” She let out a shaky laugh. “You killed the doggie treats.”

  Madeline picked up the ruined package before it could contaminate anything else. She took shallow breaths so the pepper spray didn’t get in her lungs. It would be hard to explain that to medical personnel. It’s no big deal, a phantom killer attacked me so I pepper sprayed myself.

  Yeah right.

  She threw the package in the trash bin and walked toward the back room. “Brutus, time to get up,” she called.

  Madeline reached the doors but took one last look around the shop, trying to shake the feeling that something was wrong. Lindsey forgot to set the alarm, and her and Donovan’s paranoia is rubbing off on me, that’s all. Everything’s fine.

  She shook her head and walked through the doorway, laughing at her own silliness. The only killer in the building lived in her imagination.

  The smell hit her first. Besides the ever-present stench of wet dog, there was a coppery, hot odor. It clung to the back of Madeline’s tongue, tainting the air. She couldn’t quite place it.

  “Brutus?”

  She flipped on the light switch, at the same time hearing the bell sound over the front door. Madeline started to turn back to the front of the store to see who entered, but a figure on the floor caught her attention.

  “Shit!”

  Madeline rushed to Brutus’ side, slipping in the blood pooling around his body. A yellow and blue nylon rope tied around his throat cut off his air, and Brutus struggled weakly, thrashing his head from side to side. Blood oozed from a gaping wound in the Great Dane’s side.

  She kneeled next to him, trying to untie the knot holding the rope in place. Brutus’ attempts to free himself knocked Madeline’s hands away.

  “It’s okay, baby. I’ll help you.” She tried to keep her voice soothing, although fear threatened to overcome her.

  She finally worked the rope free, tossing it away. Brutus heaved a huge sigh and laid his head on the ground. He whined weakly and licked Madeline’s hand.

  Blood leaked steadily from his side, and Madeline stripped her hooded sweatshirt over her head, pressing it against the wound. The blood saturated the material quickly, coating Madeline’s hands in the sticky substance.

  Her mind raced, uncertain what to do. She remembered the bell ringing over the door. “Hello?” she yelled. “I need some help back here!”

  There were no sounds from the other room. A sinking feeling descended on her. No one entered. The person responsible for this had been in the store. The bell sounded when he left.

  Madeline pressed hard on Brutus’ side with her right hand, fishing her smart phone out of her pocket with the other. Brutus needed a vet. There was a list of emergency numbers on the back wall, but she couldn’t risk leaving Brutus to find the right one.

  Blood smeared across the phone’s surface as she pressed the 911 speed dial at the bottom of the phone. The police force should be able to find help quickly, and speed was a factor. With all the blood he lost, she didn’t know how much time the dog had left.

  As she waited for the call to connect, blood on the wall caught her attention. Not random splatters, but a message...to her.

  Forget what you saw, Maddie, or you’re next.

  ***

  Donovan grabbed the cordless phone beside his bed. “Andrews.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you answer your cell phone?”

  “Chief?” Donovan swung his legs out of bed and rubbed his eyes. “I lost the damn thing again. What’s going on?”

  “I need you to get down to Woofy Cuts. I’m at the station alone until dispatch arrives so I can’t leave, and a 9-1-1 call came in.”

  “Shit.” Donovan stood up and pulled on a pair of pants. “Is Madeline Scott okay? She was going in by herself this morning.”

  “She sounded fine. She asked for a vet but wouldn’t stay on the line.”

  He tried to calm his racing pulse. “How long ago did she call?”

  “Three minutes. Billy Jeffries is on his way,” Chief Stone replied.

  “So am I.” Donovan ended the call and threw the phone on the bed, pulling a shirt over his head.

  He slipped his feet into socks and shoes and ran a hand over his hair before rushing out the door to his car. After popping in a few breath mints, he pulled the police cruiser onto the road and flipped on the emergency lights as he sped to Main Street.

  Madeline might not be happy to see him after the way he acted last night, but he’d been so frustrated. Why, out of all the women in town, did he lust after the one who couldn’t care less? Most women threw themselves at him. Look at Christy—she’d begged for breakup sex. So why didn’t Maddie want him?

  What really mattered to him now, though, was whether she was okay. If she asked for a vet, it sounded like a problem with the dogs, but he’d feel a lot better once he knew for sure she was safe.

  He pulled into the parking lot at Woofy Cuts, cutting off the lights and hopping out of the car just as Billy Jeffries, the local veterinarian, disappeared through the front door. Donovan entered on his heels, looking around the empty storefront.

  “Maddie?” he yelled. “Where are you?”

 
“In the back. Please hurry!”

  Panic laced Madeline’s voice, and Donovan raced for the back door. The blood-covered mess in the middle of the room arrested the breath in his throat for a moment. He was no stranger to bloody crime scenes, but seeing Maddie in a pool of blood made Donovan’s heart tumble in an uncomfortable flip-flop. The dog next to her whined, his tail thumping against the floor when Maddie whispered something to him.

  Billy bumped Donovan out of the way, approaching Madeline. “What happened here?”

  She turned to face them, a tear tracking down her cheek and turning red as it crossed through smears of blood. “Someone tried to choke Brutus, but I got the rope off his neck. They stabbed him or something. Help him!”

  “Keep the pressure on the wound,” Billy said. “You’re doing the right thing, Madeline.” The vet pulled his phone from his pocket and typed on the keypad. “I texted my team for more help. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of him.”

  Madeline nodded. “Thank you.”

  Brutus whined again and moved his head around. The movements seemed feeble, as though the loss of blood had zapped his energy.

  “Easy, Brutus. I know it hurts.” Billy kneeled by the dog’s head, petting his sleek, black neck. “It’s okay, boy.”

  Donovan looked around the room, trying to figure out how this happened. Had the intruder been in here with Maddie? Dark spots on the wall drew Donovan’s attention. The blood froze in his veins as he read the message left there.

  At first, he’d thought this had to be some sort of attack against Lindsey. She had a sharp tongue and plenty of people didn’t like her. The message clearly ruled that theory out.

  This attack related to Frank’s murder, and the killer was threatening Maddie. Donovan ground his teeth together. This was all Brandon’s fault. By reporting that Madeline saw the killer in the article he wrote, Brandon put her in danger. How could he do that to her while claiming to like her and want to date her?

  “Donovan, my team should be here any minute,” Billy said, drawing his attention from the message. “Take her into the other room and send them back here, would you?”