by Becca Van
Lori looked over her shoulder to see that Colby and Scott were standing at the edge of some trees. As she rose to her feet and stretched her aching back, the hairs on her nape stood on end. She glanced around the area, scanning the trees and any place it would be easy to hide, but she didn’t see anyone. When she looked back over her shoulder and saw Ward watching her she suspected that he had been the one to get her hackles up, but she frowned over that conclusion. This hadn’t felt like it had before, when she caught him and or his brothers watching her. It was different in a creepy kind of way.
Then she thought it was probably because of the crime scene and the dead woman and pushed it from her mind. She watched the ground as she walked toward the two men searching for more footprints and evidence as she went, but she found nothing.
Lori looked down at the footprint and frowned. She felt like she’d seen it before but couldn’t remember when or where. She lifted her camera and clicked off photos as she followed the trail, making sure to keep to the side of the perp’s tracks, but the further she walked from the water the drier the ground got and the footprints slowly faded to nothing. Lori followed the track and sighed with frustration when she got to the old asphalt road. There was no way she would get tire tracks off of the bitumen, not unless their criminal had locked up his wheels and left rubber on the road, but he hadn’t of course.
This guy was damn good and that worried her even more. How many women was he going to be able to kill before they were able to catch him? Too many had already died.
Lori walked back up the track and then over to the pile of clothes that had been cut from their victim. She took pictures from every angle and then she removed the woman’s bra and stopped to take another photograph.
“Why don’t you let me take the pictures so you don’t have to move back and forth all the time?” Ward asked as he held his hand out for the camera. “We’ll get this finished faster if you let me and my brothers help you.”
“Sorry.” Lori handed the camera over. “I’m just so used to do everything myself.”
“What about your last partner?” Ward asked. “Didn’t he help you?”
Lori snorted. “Nope, he liked to stand around and look important.” She bent over and picked up panties and then a top and three-quarter leggings. The woman’s sneakers and socks were last.
“You didn’t like your last partner?” Colby asked.
Lori looked up to see Colby and Scott standing next to Ward. “There was nothing to like. This is really strange.”
“What do you mean?” Scott asked.
“The felon took her shoes and socks off first,” Lori had bagged each individual item and was about to do the same with the shoes and socks but something moved in one of the sneakers. She reached in and pulled out the woman’s driver’s license. After placing the shoes and socks in another bag she held the license up for Ward to snap a picture of and then placed it in the bag, too.
There was nothing else she or the three men could do now but head back to the office to write up their reports. The rest was up to the Forensic Science department and the coroner.
The men began gathering the other bags Lori had set aside, and after handing over the one she still held in her hand to Scott she headed back over to her kit. After disposing of her gloves and gathering her stuff, they all headed back toward the cars.
There was still way too much work to be done before she could even think of heading back to her own place.
Chapter Three
“Damn it, she is going to lead us on a merry chase.” Colby glanced at Scott and then back to the road.
“Yeah, but we aren’t going to let her push us away.”
“I can’t believe what she said about her last partner. Sure, he sounds like he was a fucking asshole from the couple of things Darius said, but letting her do all the work?”
“I bet he tried to take all the credit for all the cases they solved,” Scott said.
“They?” Colby asked.
“Lori probably solved all of them.” Scott sighed.
“She’s thorough and doesn’t miss a trick. I watched as she walked all the way up that track until she got to the road. She never lifted her head once, but I could see her taking everything in her periphery, too.”
“What pisses me off is how she didn’t even ask us for help. She just got to work and did everything with methodical deliberation.”
“We’re just going to have to step in and take over. No wonder she’s so fucking exhausted,” Colby said. “I hate seeing those dark smudges beneath her eyes, and what’s the bet she hasn’t eaten all day? Knowing cops the way we do I think she probably started out on coffee and hasn’t eaten anything at all.”
“Then we make sure she eats soon. It’s already after five.”
“Damn.” Colby slowed the car and turned into the underground parking lot. “She’s going to want to print out those photographs and write up a report before she even thinks about leaving.”
“We’ll just have to convince her otherwise,” Scott said as he began to gather the evidence bags together.
“Are you going to take that straight up for testing?” Colby asked.
“Yep. There is no way I’m giving that sweet, sexy woman a reason to kick my ass.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think I’d like an ass kicking from her.” Colby waggled his eyebrows and smiled.
“Not that sort, you wouldn’t.” Scott looked at him.
“Oh, I don’t know. I think I’d like to see some fire in her eyes. She’s already attracted to us, but she’s fighting it.”
“Yes she is, but we won’t let her continue to ignore us.”
Colby parked the car and then they got out and followed her and Ward up the stairs, past the squad room and into Lori’s office. Scott had continued up to the second floor to hand over the evidence for forensic testing, but if he knew his brother, and he did very well, he would be back there in minutes.
Lori immediately headed to her desk and sat down. Ward took the desk across from hers and watched her for a couple of moments before glancing at Colby. Colby mimed eating and nodded at Lori and Ward nodded.
“Fuck!” Lori spat out.
“What’s wrong, darlin’?” Colby asked.
“We could have another killer on our hands,” Lori said and frowned.
“Why do you think that?” Ward asked.
“The MO is different.”
“How?” Ward got up from his seat and walked over to stand behind Lori.
“This woman isn’t a prostitute like the other women were.” Lori rubbed at her forehead.
“No, wait. Everything was the same as our last victims except for the profession. Maybe he couldn’t get to the one he wanted and this was a spur of the moment kill. The woman had a broken fingernail. That’s never happened before. She must have struggled with him. My gut is telling me it’s the same perp but he couldn’t wait or an opportunity presented itself and he couldn’t resist. It just has to be him.” She sighed tiredly.
“He got a taste for killing and it’s getting control of him,” Colby said.
“Looks like.” Lori pressed her fingers to her closed eyelids and Colby knew she’d had enough for the day.
“Print out her details and we can inform her family tomorrow,” Ward suggested.
“Don’t you think we should tell them sooner?” Lori asked. “This is someone’s daughter or maybe even someone’s wife.”
“You’re right.” Colby sighed. “Print off her information and I’ll get one of the uniforms to handle it.”
“I can…”
“Not tonight you can’t, baby. You’re exhausted,” Ward said, and went to the printer to retrieve the print out.
“Lori, why don’t we go and get something to eat? None of this stuff can’t wait until tomorrow and we’ll all be able to concentrate better after a good night’s sleep.”
Lori glanced over at Ward and then at Colby as he took a seat opposite Ward’s desk. “I just want to start this…”
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“Are we ready to go?” Scott asked as he walked into the room.
Lori sighed and leaned back in her chair.
“I really…”
“Need to show us where we can eat,” Scott interrupted her. “We don’t know any of the good places yet, darlin’, and would appreciate the knowledge of a local.”
“I’m starving,” Colby said, and rubbed his belly, and he nearly smiled when he saw Lori’s eyes following his hand as if mesmerized. No, she definitely wasn’t as immune to them as she tried to make out.
“Me, too,” Ward said. “We all missed lunch. You’ve got to be hungry, too, baby.”
Colby nearly laughed out loud when Lori scowled at Ward for the endearment, but he noticed the warmth in her eyes and realized she liked it, but knew she would never admit to it.
“Okay.” She sighed as if in resignation and then she saved her work and shut down her PC. After collecting her wallet from her drawer and stuffing it into the pocket of her jeans she picked up her car keys and stood up.
“Where are you guys staying? Have you found a place to live yet?”
“Yeah, we have a condo on the corner of Johnson Street and Princeton Ave,” Colby replied, and then studied her face when she stared at him with a funny look on her face.
She fumbled with her keys and they fell to the floor. She picked them up and Colby held in the groan building in his chest when her jeans stretched over her delectable rounded ass cheeks. He could just imagine gripping those sexy hips while he pounded into her from behind and then he would knead those full muscular globes and sink into her hot, wet pussy slowly before he—
Damn! Get your mind out of the gutter, man. The last thing she needs to know is that you have a boner for her.
“Let’s go.” Lori headed toward the door and Colby and his brothers rushed to catch up with her. She led the way along the outskirts of the squad room and Ward hurried over to one of the uniform cops to talk to him, and handed over their latest victim’s information before hurrying to catch up with them down the stairs to the basement.
“Did you bring your own car?” Lori asked.
“Yeah,” Scott said. “It’s out front. If you give me a few minutes to get there I can follow you and my brothers to wherever we’re going.”
“Why don’t I go with you, baby?” Ward asked. “That way I can watch for all the landmarks so we can find our way around.”
“Whatever,” Lori muttered, but Colby and his brothers heard her. She got into her car and looked out the windshield at Ward expectantly.
Scott hurried out of the car park and Colby got into his unmarked police car. He looked over at Lori and Ward and saw that neither of them were talking. Colby decided then and there to get Lori to open up with them before the night was over. Maybe they could buy her a glass of wine and she would relax a little more around them. He wanted to know everything about her and knew that his brothers did too.
When she started her car, he started his and followed her out of the garage. Scott pulled the truck in behind him and they played follow he leader.
Fifteen minutes later they were all parked on the West Avenue North strip of shops and Lori was leading the way into the Fifth Precinct Hotel. He wasn’t surprised to see Darius sitting at the bar talking to other cops, but what pissed Colby off was the way that asshole who had hurt Lori earlier that day with his malicious words was eying her over as she walked toward a table near the back.
She sat down with her back to the wall and surveyed the room quickly before picking up a menu off the table.
Colby sat to her right and Ward sat to her left, which left the seat opposite her for Scott. His brother took a seat and then glanced to him and Ward. He raised his eyebrow at Ward but his brother shook his head.
Colby didn’t have to ask to know what the unspoken question was. Scott was asking if Lori had talked to him any on the drive over, and Ward had answered no.
“What do you want to drink, honey?” Scott asked.
“Mineral water.”
“Why not have a glass of wine?” Colby suggested. “One drink won’t impair you in any way and I’m sure you could do with it after the day we had.”
Lori looked up from the menu and glanced at each of them before hiding behind it again. Colby was sure she probably had the food list down by heart but he wasn’t about to make her even more uncomfortable by saying anything.
“I’d rather have a beer,” Lori said as she placed the menu back on the table.
“A girl after my own heart.” Scott smiled and winked at her before heading toward the bar.
“What made you transfer here?” Lori asked.
“We grew up with Darius in our lives,” Colby said, and went on to explain about their dad and Darius being old army buddies. “There was nothing left for us in Phoenix and when Darius called and asked if we wanted to transfer here to fill some holes he had, we jumped at the chance.”
“He’s a good man.” Lori glanced toward the bar, where Darius was sipping on a beer and talking to other cops.
“That he is,” Ward said. “He used to talk about you all the time.”
“He did?” Lori’s voice squeaked and red tinged her cheeks.
Colby leaned over and stroked a finger down her soft warm cheek. “Yeah, we felt like we knew you before we even met you.”
Lori gulped and looked away, but he could see the questions rolling around in her head and leaned back in his chair while he waited for her to ask them.
Scott came back and passed the beers out before sitting back down.
“What did he tell you?”
Colby nearly smiled at the belligerent way she’d asked that question but he could see anxiety in her posture. She was gripping the edge of the table so hard her knuckles were white and shoulders were up around her ears.
“Just that after saving you from being mugged on the street, he took you in and looked out for you until you were on your feet.”
Lori’s grip on the table relaxed and her shoulders dropped back down. She snagged the bottle of beer and took a couple of sips. “How long have you three been in town?” she asked.
“Two weeks,” Scott replied.
“When did you move into your condo?”
“The day we hit town,” Colby answered and again saw that strange look cross her face. “We’re not that far from our place now.”
Lori nodded as if she knew where their place was, and she probably did since they were just opposite the Varsity Stadium.
“What can I get you?” the waitress asked as she stopped beside their table.
Colby and his brothers ordered steak and vegetables and Lori ordered grilled salmon and salad.
“How long have you been on the force?” Ward asked.
“Six years.”
“Shit! How long were you in uniform for?”
“Twelve months.”
“Damn. You made detective fast, honey,” Scott said.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Lori snapped out her question and glared at Scott as if expecting a derogatory reply.
Scott held his hands out palms up as if in self-defense and then asked, “Why would I? You are obviously very good at your job or you wouldn’t be a detective.”
The tight muscles in Lori’s face relaxed and she huffed out a breath. “Sorry.”
“You must have good reason to go on the defensive like that. Who’s been giving you grief besides that fucker this morning?” Ward asked.
“My previous partner, Geoff hated that he had to work with a woman, and especially me, since I’d worked my way up so fast.”
“Asshole,” Colby snarled. “He was probably jealous because it took him much longer to get where you are.”
“How old are you, honey?” Scott asked.
“Twenty-six.”
“And you’ve been working with Darius since you started on the force?” Ward asked.
Lori nodded.
“You made detective by twenty-one?” Colby asked.
“You are obviously a very smart lady.” Scott smiled at her.
Lori blushed and Colby realized that she wasn’t used to getting compliments, if that asshole from this morning and her partner were anything to go by. She’d probably been dealing with sexist, egotistical pricks from the first day she made detective, if not before.
Damn, is there any wonder she keeps her emotions locked down tight?
The waitress delivered their food and they all concentrated on filling their bellies after a long day. Colby loved that Lori tucked into her foot with gusto and didn’t pick at or push her food around her plate like so many of the women of today did. He’d never understand why women wanted to have stick figures or put vanity in front of being healthy. He loved a woman with an appetite and curves on her body. It gave a man something to hold onto when he made love to her and he wouldn’t have to be afraid of hurting her if he got too passionate.
When they‘d finished eating, Lori sighed with satiation and he could just imagine her making those sighing sounds and more as he made love to her with his brothers. When his cock twitched and began to fill with blood again, he pushed those lascivious thoughts to the back of his mind. It was too uncomfortable to be sitting for long periods of time with a full-on boner.
Darius walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat down close to Lori. She smiled up at him and Colby could see the love and respect she had for their boss in her eyes. “Hey, honey, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, Darius.”
Darius reached up and touched the dark smudge beneath one of Lori’s eyes. “Still not sleeping, huh?”
Lori shrugged and looked away.
“Geoff’s already had a complaint put in against him,” Darius said, obviously changing the subject.
“Don’t tell me. It was from another woman.”
“Yep.”
“Good. I hope IA gets involved and throws the book at him.”
“You and I both know he’s too cagey for that. He’ll just laugh it off and say he was joking around again.”
Colby sat up straighter in his chair. “Internal Affairs have been on his ass before?”
Darius sighed and then took a sip of his beer. “We tried but he got off with a warning. Asshole.”
