Tall, Dark and Deadly Books 1 - 4

by Lisa Renee Jones

  Maggie’s expression filled with a combination of surprise and concern. “Is that wise?”

  Lindsey rolled her eyes. Mark had been wagging his tongue. “I’ll be fine. If Mark asks, tell him I went to see Greg.”

  Not giving her time to say another word, Lindsey made fast tracks to the elevator. Once she was in the lobby, she waited impatiently for a taxi. The doorman was struggling. Fearful Mark might come chasing after her, Lindsey took off on foot, with her destination the subway. Once there, she found herself more nervous than she wanted to be. She sat in a corner, searching the other riders’ faces, looking for signs they might be the killer. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

  “Damn it,” she mumbled under her breath. Mark was making her crazy. He was so damn nervous, he had her on edge. She’d end up afraid of her own shadow if she wasn’t careful. She’d dealt with plenty of criminals.

  The car screeched to a halt, and Lindsey hopped to her feet, eager to escape confinement. She walked through the subway station, refusing to give into the urge to glance over her shoulder. Pausing as she stepped onto the street, she let out a sigh of relief. The sun was bright, blinding in fact, but its warmth signaled wide open space, and her escape from below.

  Determination in her steps, she walked towards Greg’s office. She wanted the truth and she intended to get it.

  *

  Mark ran a hand through his already-tousled hair as he approached Maggie’s desk and handed her the documents he’d edited. “I’m sorry Maggie, but I made more changes.”

  Maggie smiled with her normal good nature. “Not a problem.”

  Mark gave her a half smile, stress etched in his features. Being away for several days had loaded him down. But it was well worth it. “Thanks Maggie. You’re a doll.” He started to turn away.

  “Mark,” Maggie said, her voice a bit hesitant.

  Mark registered the oddness of her voice and turned to face her again. She was wringing her hands together, looking everywhere but in his eyes. “What is it, Maggie?” he encouraged gently. “You know you can tell me anything.”

  She nodded. “I know. I just hate to get the middle of things. Lindsey—”

  Mark stiffened. “Lindsey what?”

  She let out a long breath. “She went out—”

  “What?” Mark demanded, suddenly so tense he thought he might explode.

  She gulped. “Yes, and she told me to tell you if you asked, but I didn’t think I should wait.”

  “Where?”

  “To see Greg.”

  Mark said a choice curse word under his breath. It took him several seconds to calm down enough to think straight. Damn, he didn’t have time to chase her all over town. But she could be in danger. He cursed again and focused on Maggie, his mind made up. “Cancel my appointments.”

  Maggie sighed. “I’ll do it. Sorry, Mark.”

  Mark grimaced. “You did the right thing by telling me.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lindsey stood silently in Greg’s door.

  Greg was sitting at his desk, head tilted down as he studied a file.

  Lindsey stood silently at his door, assessing him. He was a handsome man, there was no question. His sense of style was classy, his body muscular, his shoulders broad. But there was something empty and cold about him.

  Delicately she cleared her throat. His head jerked up and his eyes narrowed. She watched him closely. His expression went from calculating to welcoming. Funny how she never noticed his tactics before, yet they had to have been visible.

  “Lindsey,” he said, waving her forward. “What a surprise.” He pushed to his feet and rounded the desk, his eyes making a quick perusal down her body.

  He rested his hip on his desk as she moved, putting a chair between them. He was already too close for comfort.

  His eyes were shrewd. He knew what she had done. “So, what do I owe the pleasure of the visit?”

  Never one to mince words, Lindsey went for the jugular, just as she had in the courtroom. “I went to Vegas, Greg.” She watched for his reaction.

  He didn’t even blink. “Oh?” he said. “I’m surprised you managed time for play while running the firm.”

  Lindsey shook her head from side to side, disgust lacing the action. “Please don’t insult my intelligence by playing games, Greg. We both know what I found while I was in Vegas.”

  If it weren’t for the muscle that jumped in his jaw, she would never have known how angry he was. The man was made for politics. “The only games I want to play with you, Lindsey, are between the sheets.”

  His words were meant to rattle her. A sorry method, low down and dirty. Lindsey almost laughed, despite the flashbacks to their past. “I can only be thankful those days are over.” The words were out before she could stop them. She felt them with so much intensity they had simply spilled from her lips.

  An evil smirk appeared on his lips. “I don’t believe you. You liked it, and you know it.” His eyes traveled down her legs in a slow, penetrating gaze that made her skin crawl. “I’ve always had a thing for leggy blondes, darling, and you certainly fit that bill.”

  His crudeness floored her. This was a new side of Greg. She ignored his comment. “You knew the Vegas murders were connected to the local cases.”

  “I knew no such thing,” he said, but his arms crossed in front of his body. A defensive stance.

  Her tone alone accused. Her words were like knives. “It didn’t serve your political agenda, so you covered up the connection.”

  He laughed, but it sounded bitter. “You’re barking up the wrong tree.” He paused and narrowed his eyes at her. “Kind of like you did with Hudson.”

  Lindsey gave him a level gaze. “Nice try, but I know they’re all connected. I was right about Hudson, and you know it as well as I do.”

  He pushed off the desk and took a step towards her. Lindsey automatically moved a little farther behind the chair. “You’re getting a little too cocky for your own good, Lindsey.”

  She studied him, trying to read his words. “What does that mean, Greg?” she asked. “It sounds like a threat.”

  He took another step, but this time she forced herself to stand still. The door was open. She was safe. The thought hit her like a punch in the stomach. Why would Greg be dangerous? But her instincts said he was. As if to confirm the truth, he said, “You don’t want to cross me.”

  Lindsey refused to back off. The victims and their families deserved justice. “You cost lives with your little oversight. I think the press would be very interested.”

  He moved swiftly, so swiftly that he was holding her arms before she knew what was happening. “Do it, and I can assure you the press will get an earful about Paxton. I’ll be sure your daddy is ruined.”

  Shock and anger twisted in her gut. It was hard to believe she had ever been with this man. She responded in a low voice, through clenched teeth. “Get your hands off me.”

  He reached up and ran a finger down her cheek. “Aw, but you like my hands, now don’t you, Lindsey?” He moved as if he might kiss her.

  Lindsey turned her head to the side and tugged at her arm.

  “Let her go.”

  Relief washed over Lindsey at the sound of Mark’s voice. One look at his tense jaw, dark eyes, and tightly drawn body told her he was ready for a fight. Greg dropped her arm as if burned, turning to face Mark. His actions spoke of nervousness, but his voice was cool. “Well, well, the cavalry is here. Hot on her trail, are you, Mark?”

  Mark’s gaze settled on Greg’s face in an unblinking stare. “What exactly were you trying to prove, or do you make a habit of manhandling ladies?” he said through clenched teeth, not showing any emotions on his carefully masked face.

  Greg’s lips twitched. “I was simply renewing an old friendship.”

  Lindsey wanted to say something, but it was clear this had become a battle of wills between the two men. She walked to Mark’s side, but he never took his eyes off Greg. She managed a voi
ce that was remarkably steady. “Greg was warning me not to cross him or he would ruin Paxton.”

  Mark still had Greg locked in a cold stare. “Is that so?”

  “Just a conversation between friends,” he explained. “We were just saying how dangerous it could be to get into media wars. She made her point, and I demonstrated mine.” He smiled with smug satisfaction. “Quite effectively I believe.”

  Mark was silent for a long moment, as if calculating his move or calming his temper. Lindsey wasn’t sure which. “We all know what has gone down, so let’s make this simple,” Mark said, a bite to his tone. “Drop the charges against Williams and make this easy on us all.”

  Greg crossed his arms, back in his defensive posture. “Not gonna happen.”

  Mark inclined his head. “Then we’ll see you in court.”

  Mark turned to leave, followed by Lindsey, and Greg spoke to his retreating back. “The media war won’t be friendly. Keep that in mind.”

  Mark turned slowly. “No, you keep that in mind. Don’t underestimate my ability to come out on top.”

  Lindsey followed Mark out the door, thinking of the ease at which his arrogant exterior slipped into place. It wasn’t a show, though she knew he had a much softer side. She’d witnessed it firsthand. He really believed he was better than most, and with a sigh of resignation, Lindsey thought he probably was. Not that she would ever tell him that.

  Calming now, she started to process the events that had just played out. She stopped walking. Mark stopped with her as if he had been monitoring her footsteps. He looked at her expectantly.

  “Why are you here?” she demanded.

  He stared at her as if she had lost her mind. “This is not the time or place for this conversation.”

  Who made him the almighty deciding factor? “I think it is.”

  He reached for her arm but she jerked out of his grasp and pointed at him. “Don’t.”

  He surprised her by moving so close their bodies were practically touching. “I will not apologize for being worried about you.”

  “I can take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “Running off alone while a killer is stalking you says different.”

  She glared. “Go to hell, Mark.” She started to walk.

  His hand snaked out, catching her arm, and turning her towards him. “I am not letting you walk out of here alone. Either walk with me or I swear to God I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here.”

  He meant to do as he said. As much as she didn’t want to go with him, she didn’t want to make a scene. Her lips thinned with barely contained fury. “Fine,” she said through clenched teeth.

  Together they walked to the front of the building. Lindsey toyed with the idea of darting once she was on the street but decided against it. Immaturity and misplaced anger wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Instead, she let Mark hail a cab.

  They rode in silence, both staring out the opposite windows. Her anger turned to thoughts about the case, her anger at Mark becoming secondary. “We should call Vegas.”

  Mark nodded, giving her a quick look. “Yes, they have a right to know they were duped.”

  She nodded. The pleasure of setting the two men free was clouded by the thought of a vicious killer still being on the prowl. “There is enough evidence to at least get Hudson a new trial, and probably free Williams.”

  Mark turned and met her gaze. “Let’s think this through. We can’t alert this creep that we are onto him.”

  Lindsey swallowed. As much as she hated the truth to his words, she had to agree. Hudson deserved his life back, but it was more important to ensure no one else became a victim.

  “We need to call Steve,” Mark added.

  Lindsey nodded. “I’ll call and see if he can come over as soon as we get to the office.”

  Mark slid across the seat, his finger going to her chin. His face was so close, his expression so dark, that Lindsey’s breath caught in her throat. “Don’t,” he said in a dangerously soft voice, “pull a stunt like this one again.” Lindsey opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off. “And don’t get on your high horse,” he added. “This is not a game, or even a power play. This is life,” he paused for meaning, “and death.”

  His words cut like a knife and she shivered. He was right. Death was in the air.

  *

  A single white posy in a simple vase sat on the reception desk. Without asking, Lindsey knew who it was for. And who it was from.

  Mark’s hands settled on her shoulders and she leaned back against him, needing the source of strength he offered. Forgotten was the argument over Greg.

  Judy reached for the vase. “More flowers.”

  “Don’t touch that,” Mark said sharply. Judy recoiled, looking wounded by his tone. Mark turned Lindsey to look at him. “You okay?”

  Lindsey nodded automatically. “I need to call Steve.” And she turned away from Mark, needing to get to her office. She mentally searched for her composure. By the time she called Steve, she was beginning to pull herself together. Her hand was remarkably steady as she hung up the receiver.

  She squeezed her eyes shut, and inhaled and exhaled several times. Her head fell back on the chair, and she tried to relax her body. She jumped as Mark leaned over her, his hands on the arms of her chair. She could hardly believe she hadn’t heard his approach. “Wow,” he said in a calming voice. “It’s just me.”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t hear you.”

  Mark kneeled down in front of her, his hands sliding to her knees. “The mind has a strange way of sensing danger. I’m not dangerous to you. You have good instincts. I’m sure, had I been someone else, you would have been alert well before you were.”

  His words didn’t support what he had said to her in the past. “But you don’t believe in instinct, remember?”

  Mark gave her a reassuring smile. “Not in myself, but I’ve learned to trust yours.”

  “Don’t,” she said flatly. “I’ve done nothing but get us all in trouble.”

  His fingers tightened on her legs. “That’s far from the truth. You were right all along. If people would have listened to you, things might have been solved a long time ago. People like Greg, who hid the facts for personal gain, caused this hell.”

  The intercom went off. “Steve is here,” Judy stated.

  “Send him in,” Mark said, and then returned his focus to Lindsey. “Don’t start doubting yourself. We need your instincts more than ever.”

  Lindsey smiled but didn’t say anything. Mark straightened to his full height and with his normal grace moved to the office door and opened it. Steve stood there about to knock. Mark offered him his hand. “Glad you’re here.”

  Steve stepped into the room, his eyes on Lindsey “You can’t seem to get rid of this particular case, can you?”

  Garth walked through the door directly behind Steve, and shook Mark’s hand. He gave Lindsey a quick nod. She tried to smile, but couldn’t. “What do you think, Steve?” she said, wanting to get on with finding answers.

  “I have the flower being taken to the lab right now,” he said walking towards her and sitting down in a chair.

  “We won’t find anything though,” Garth added. “You know that. No florist tag, and Judy said the delivery person wasn’t more than fifteen or sixteen. Probably grabbed off the street and paid to bring it up.” Garth sat in the chair next to Steve.

  “Did you read the card?” Steve asked.

  Lindsey swallowed back the queasiness that was lifting to her throat. She could feel the eyes of the room watching her. Steve pulled a piece of paper and slid it on the desk in front of her. “I wrote down what it said. The lab will, of course, need the actual card.”

  She read it in silence, Mark walking behind her to lean over her shoulder.

  Ring around the rosy

  Pocket full of posies

  Ashes, ashes they all fall down.

  I knew you would come back. Tonight we ce
lebrate.

  Lindsey pressed her palms on the desk, trying to hide the way they shook. Mark squeezed her shoulder in silent support.

  Steve reached for the piece of paper as if he was afraid Lindsey would read it again. “His fixation on you is confirmed.”

  Lindsey’s hand closed down on the paper. “No. Do you understand what he is saying …” She looked around the room. “Tonight we celebrate. He plans to kill another woman.”

  “Tonight,” Mark said.

  “But not you,” Garth said quietly.

  Lindsey focused on Garth. “How do you know?”

  “Instincts,” he said. “You’re not the only one who follows them. It’s not you. He’s toying with you.”

  Steve looked at Lindsey. “The words ‘ashes to ashes’ and the choice of the posy are both symbolic of death.”

  “What are the chances he will harm Lindsey?” Mark asked.

  Garth responded again, “I don’t think she’s in immediate danger. Right now he appears to be enjoying the game.”

  “But,” Steve interjected, “we can’t take chances.” He jabbed a finger at the note. “He could be talking about Lindsey.”

  “Either way,” Lindsey said, “he plans to kill again tonight.”

  “Any evidence found at the apartment?” Mark asked.

  Steve looked at Mark. “Nothing helpful, I’m afraid.”

  Lindsey’s mind was racing. “He’ll go to the Pink Panther to choose his victim. I’m sure of it.”

  “It fits,” Steve said. “The question is, will he expect us to be there?”

  Steve looked from Mark to Lindsey. “Will he, Lindsey?”

  Lindsey thought a minute. “If he’s been watching me, which we have to assume he has, then yes. He knows I have been there and that I know it’s his place.” She paused. “He knows I know.”

  Mark shook his head. “It’s going to be impossible to catch the guy. He probably picked the victim weeks ago. I can’t believe he will grab her at the Pink Panther.”

  Steve replied, “He might. These guys get bolder and bolder.”

  Lindsey tapped her fingers on the desk. “We need to throw him a curve ball.”