Count to Ten

by Karen Rose

  “But all the casinos have cameras,” Reed said. “We know the days he was there. We should be able to find him on video. At least to know if it’s Devin White or...” He winced a little. “Or Math Boy. Can’t we find a different pet name for him?”

  “It works for now.” She frowned. “There are a dozen casinos. Where do we start?”

  “You familiar with Atlantic City?” Aidan asked.

  “Never been there,” Reed answered and Mia shook her head as well.

  “Tess and I went to the Jersey shore on our honeymoon just a few weeks ago. One of the days we drove to -Atlantic City and did some of the casinos, so it’s still fresh in my mind.” Aidan brought a map to their desks and the three of them stood, studying it. “Willow Inn is down here, close to the Silver Casino. Harrah’s and Trump’s Marina are way up here and all the other big casinos are way over here, on the beach.”

  “He probably went to the Silver Casino at least once or twice since it was close,” Mia said.

  “And it’s one of the smaller casinos, so it should be easier for them to locate him.”

  Reed looked at the grainy picture. “The university has a better photo of the real Devin. We could ask Atlantic City PD to search tonight with this, or wait until tomorrow morning.”

  “Four women are dead,” Mia said. “I don’t think we can afford to wait.”

  “I agree,” Aidan said. “Besides, if they don’t find him before morning, then we give them a better picture and ask them to start again.”

  “I’ll send pictures of White and Math Boy to Atlantic City PD. Maybe somebody filed a missing person on the real Devin. Thanks for the help, Aidan. You guys go on home.”

  Aidan quickly complied, waving good-bye on his way out. But Reed remained, watching her. “You’re coming home with me, Mia.”

  She looked up, eyes narrowed. “That was a dirty stunt to pull, Solliday.”

  He inclined his head, his own dander up. “What? That I want to keep you alive?”

  She turned to her computer, her lips a thin line. “You could have asked me first.”

  He backed off. “Yeah. And I probably should have. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah. Well, fine. Go home, Solliday. I’ll meet you later. After Beth goes to sleep.”

  “You could come for dinner.”

  Her eyes were locked on her computer screen. “I promised Abe I’d have dinner with them. Besides, you need time with your daughter. Go home. I’ll see you later.”

  He leaned against her desk, closer than was wise, but dammit, he could still feel her trembling as he’d held her. She thought she was superwoman. But she was a hell of a lot more human than she wanted to admit. “Mia, I was there the other night, remember? I saw how close you came to not having a head anymore. Doesn’t that scare you?”

  She looked up, eyes flat. “Yes. But that’s my job and my life. I’m not going to run every time a bad guy waves a gun in my face. If I did, I’d be useless to anyone.”

  “If you’re dead, you’re useless to everyone,” he shot back.

  “I said I’d meet you later.” Her eyes closed. “I promise. Now go home to your kid.”

  Mia waited until he was gone, then called the Atlantic City police department, explained what she needed, answered all the questions she could. They said they’d coordinate a search with the management of the Silver Casino. She came back from faxing the photos to find Roger Burnette standing at her desk.

  He was not pleased. He may have been a little drunk. His eyes were filled with pain and a reckless wrath that made her steps slow. Instinctively she put the photos on the first desk she passed so that when she approached him, it was with empty hands. No sense in giving a grief-ravaged parent the identity of their child’s killer. Especially when the parent was a cop. “Sergeant Burnette. Can I help you?”

  “You can tell me you know who murdered my daughter.”

  “We believe we do, sir. But we don’t have a legitimate identification or location.”

  He took rapid breaths. “In other words, you know jack shit.”

  “Sergeant.” Carefully she came closer. “Let me call someone to take you home.”

  “Dammit, I don’t need anybody to take me home. I need you to tell me you know who killed my Caitlin.” In a rage he knocked the stack of file folders from her desk. Papers flew all over the floor. “You sit here and read all damn day. Why aren’t you out there looking?” He grabbed her then, gripping her shoulders like a vise and for the second time in an hour pain speared her. She’d been wrong—Burnette was very drunk. “You’re no cop,” he hissed. “Your father was a cop. He would have been ashamed of you.”

  She shoved his arms away. “Sergeant. Sit down.”

  He towered over her, fists clenched. “I’m burying my daughter tomorrow. Does that mean anything to you?”

  She stood her ground even though she had to crane her neck to look up at him. “It means a great deal to me, -Sergeant. We’re close, but we don’t have him yet. I’m sorry.”

  “Roger.” Spinnelli was out of his office and between them faster than Mia had ever seen him move. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Burnette stepped back. “Getting an update on my -daughter’s case. Not that there’s anything to update,” he added in disgust.

  “Detective Mitchell has been working this case nearly nonstop since Monday.”

  “Then she’s not very good at her job, is she?” he sneered.

  “Roger, you’re outta line,” Spinnelli barked.

  Burnette turned on his heel, swatting at the air. “Go to hell, all of you.”

  Spinnelli searched her face. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’m okay, but he’s drunk,” Mia murmured. “Make sure he doesn’t drive himself home.”

  “Mia, go home.” He winced. “Not home. To Reed’s. With whatever her name was.”

  “Lauren.” She pointed to Burnette, who’d stopped at the bullpen doorway, his shoulders hunched. “Go help him, Marc. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Thursday, November 30, 8:05 P.M.

  “Dinner was great, Kristen.” Mia smiled down at Kara -Reagan’s dirty little face as she struggled to take off a layer of spaghetti sauce without taking off a layer of the child’s fair skin. “You enjoyed it, too, didn’t you, Sweetpea?”

  Kara bounced on Mia’s lap, a sly look in her eyes. “Ice cream. Pleeease?”

  Mia laughed. She loved this little girl like she was her own. Playfully she tugged one of Kara’s red curls. “You have to ask Mommy about that.”

  “Mommy said no,” Abe said. His color was better, but his face was still too thin. “But Daddy and Kara are hoping Aunt Mia being here will change Mommy’s mind.”

  Kristen’s sigh was dramatic. “Two against one. They gang up on me like this every night. I made up the spare room, Mia. You’ll stay here tonight.”

  Kara bounced. “Stay,” she demanded. She smacked a wet kiss on Mia’s cheek.

  Kristen lifted the baby from Mia’s lap. “Bath time, baby. Then bed. Say good night to Aunt Mia.” Kara kissed her other cheek noisily, then Kristen carried her off, the two singing some silly bath-time song, Kara delivering the words with a sweet lisp.

  “You have sauce on your cheeks,” Abe said wryly and Mia scrubbed it off.

  “It was worth it.” She smiled wistfully after them, grateful the innocent child would never have to wonder if her parents loved her. “I don’t see how Kristen resists her.”

  “She’s really a marshmallow. Don’t let the tough act fool you.” Abe sat back in his chair. “You’re not staying here tonight, are you?”

  “No, but don’t tell Kristen until after I’m gone. She threatened to tie me down.”

  “Please tell me you’re not going home.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. “Solliday has a duplex. I’m going to use the other side. I get my own room, my own kitchen, my own private entrance.”

  Abe’s lips twitched. “Your own tunnel to the other side for midnight rend
ezvous?”

  Mia sucked in a cheek. Abe was laughing now and she knew Aidan had spilled the beans about the office embrace. “Your brother has a big mouth. It was nothing.”

  “Aidan’s always had a big mouth.” Abe chuckled. “You should see your face. It’s redder than Kara’s covered in -spaghetti sauce.”

  She threw a napkin at him. “And to think I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ll be back soon enough. Back to curry and sushi and vegetarian delights.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Solliday lets me choose.”

  “Choose what?” he asked with a grin and she felt her face flame even hotter. He leaned back, his face sobering. “You’ll let me know if he... if you need help.”

  “What? If he’s mean to me, you’ll beat him up?”

  “Or something.”

  He was serious and Mia was touched. “Other than being a little overbearing, he’s a gentleman. But he does piss me off. Trying to outmaneuver me.”

  “Sounds like he’s succeeded.” He shrugged when she scowled. “You aren’t in your apartment right now. I see that as a plus. Maybe he can maneuver you into moving.”

  Mia stared at him. “You, too? Abe, it’s my place. You wouldn’t sell this place. If I moved every time I made some bad guy mad, I’d be a nomad in a fucking tent.”

  “This is bigger than one bad guy. What is Spinnelli doing to curb Carmichael?”

  “What can he do? She didn’t say that was my address. She said shots were fired and that I was the target. She leaves it up to the reader to infer. She broke no laws.”

  “Mia, how did Carmichael know where to find Getts and DuPree?”

  “She said one of her sources had told her.”

  “What if she’s the source?”

  “You mean, what if she was there that night you got shot?” He nodded and she considered the possibility. “She could have followed them then. But that would mean she knew where they were the whole time and said nothing.”

  “It would mean she waited until the day you came back to share the information.”

  Mia could hear her temper pop. “Dammit. She wanted the story of me taking them down and I gave her half of what she wanted when I took DuPree.”

  “And it was a front-page story when you did. Don’t trust her, Mia.”

  “Shit.” She stood on shaky legs. “This day has sucked all the way around.”

  “Stay a little longer. You look tired.”

  She blinked hard. “I am tired. But I’ve got to get through Burnette’s files. We don’t have...” She hesitated, then shrugged and used Burnette’s own words. “We don’t have jack shit in terms of physical evidence. We’ve got to find the link.”

  “But if you don’t know his real name, then what are you looking for?” he asked.

  She rubbed her aching forehead. “You’re trying to trick me with logic,” she grumbled. “I’ll get some sleep, then hit the files.” She headed for the front door.

  He followed, moving slowly but steadily. “Bring me some of them. I can help.”

  She shrugged into her coat, wincing at her shoulder. She’d be lucky if Burnette hadn’t left a bruise. “You’re on dis-ability, pal.”

  “I can sit and read. I’m going nuts here all day.” He tilted his head. “Pleeease?”

  She laughed. “Now I know where Kara gets it. If -Spinnelli approves it, consider yourself hired. I’ll call tomorrow. Thank Kristen for dinner and kiss Kara for me.”

  As she pulled away from his house, she could see him standing in the window, watching, just as Dana had watched her drive away the night before. Once again, she felt the unwelcome tug of jealousy mixed with resentment. But she didn’t resent Abe and Dana. Not really. It was the closeness they had with their new families. This she could admit to herself. It was coming home to a noisy house, with people who loved you no matter what. It was not having to drive away alone.

  And even though the location had changed, she’d still be alone tonight. She’d be staying in Lauren’s house, while Reed’s family gathered on the other side. She thought of her own family. Kelsey in jail. Her mother... after the funeral they hadn’t spoken. Annabelle had ordered her not to return, which wasn’t hard to obey. She thought of the mystery blonde, wondered who she was and if she had a family. If she liked her mother.

  She still hadn’t run those license numbers. When everything died down, she would. When everything dies down. When everything settles. They were the words she used to put off things. To put off buying new furniture, painting her bedroom. To put off moving in with Guy last year when he’d asked. Marrying him. When everything settles down...

  And when will that be, Mia? How old will you be when that happens?

  Out of sorts, she pushed the thoughts from her mind. She had more important things to worry about now. She was going to her apartment to pack a bag, so she had to have her mind clear, her attention sharp in case nasty people with guns lurked about. She’d think about all the angst later. She laughed aloud, the sound brittle and bitter to her ears. When everything settles down.

  Thursday, November 30, 8:15 P.M.

  “Good dinner, Lauren,” Reed said, helping her clear the dishes from the table.

  Lauren looked at him shrewdly. “I’m surprised to hear that. You looked like you were punishing the food the whole time.”

  More like he’d been punishing himself. He’d completely mishandled that whole thing with Mia. “Sorry. I have some things on my mind.”

  “I guess you do.” She squeezed his arm and took the plates to the sink.

  “Whoa!” He stopped Beth, who was leaving the room without a word. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Beth gave him the look. “Upstairs,” she said, like he was mentally infirm.

  She’d been silent through dinner, a petulant scowl on her face. Once again she’d asked to go to this sleepover on the weekend. Once again he’d said no. It was getting old. “Get back here and help your aunt. I just don’t know what’s gotten into you, Beth.”

  Setting her teeth, she started tossing silverware onto plates with a clatter. “Beth!”

  She looked up and he was shocked to see tears in her eyes. “What?” she said through her teeth.

  “Beth, honey, what’s wrong?”

  Viciously she wiped crumbs from the table. “Nothing you’d understand.” Throwing the crumbs at the trash can, she ran from the room, leaving Reed staring, dumbfounded.

  “What was that?” he asked.

  Lauren took the broom and swept around the base of the trash can, where most of the crumbs had fallen. “Something’s been bothering her this week. Maybe it’s a boy.”

  Reed closed his eyes and shuddered. “She’s fourteen, Lauren. Don’t say that.”

  “She’s fourteen, Reed. Get used to it.”

  “I’ll go talk to her.”

  “Give her time to pull herself together.” She leaned on the broom and gave him an appraising stare. “You haven’t been with it the last few days, either. Need to talk?”

  Reed looked over at her. Of all their siblings, he and -Lauren were the closest. He loved the others, but he and -Lauren had always shared a bond. “I don’t know.”

  She smiled. “When you decide, you know where I live.”

  “Ahh, that.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I kind of volunteered your house. For a worthy cause.”

  She nodded, eyes narrowing. “You volunteered my house. Why?”

  “Mitchell needs a place to stay for a few days. I offered the other side of the duplex. I figured you wouldn’t mind staying in the spare room since most of your stuff is here.”

  She considered this in silence for a moment. “Why can’t she just share with me?”

  He opened his mouth. Closed it again. He’d thought of that after he’d made the offer to Mia, then pushed the thought aside. He wanted her alone. He wanted her naked. He wanted to hear her cry out when she came. Without worrying about his sister overhearing or leaving his daughter a
lone. Understanding filled Lauren’s eyes and heat filled Reed’s cheeks.

  “You’re finally taking my advice.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “But—”

  “Lauren, it’s none of your business, but now that you know, it’s temporary. Just like the partnership.”

  Her eyes shadowed. “Do you know what you’re doing, Reed?”

  He blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t mean technique-wise. I assume you have that down pretty well.”

  “Lauren,” he warned, but she ignored him.

  “I meant this... thing. With Mia. Just remember that slinking around in secret doesn’t make it less important. Telling yourself it’s temporary doesn’t make it true. And even though she seems like a tough cookie, the woman’s got feelings.”

  He knew that. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

  “If wishes were horses.” She whisked the crumbs into the trash. “I’ll get her room ready.” Her expression pained, she ran her finger down his shirt, tracing the chain he wore beneath it. “You took it off last night.”

  “You were in my room?”

  “Looking for some aspirin. It was on your night table in plain sight. Be careful, Reed. No woman wants to live in another woman’s shadow. Even temporarily.”

  He didn’t know what to say and the ringing of his cell phone saved him from saying anything. He didn’t recognize the number. “Solliday.”

  Lauren shook her head and with a backward look, left to prepare Mia’s room.

  “This is Abe Reagan. Mia’s partner.”

  Reed’s guard went up. “Nice to meet you. Just curious, how did you get my cell?”

  “Got it from Aidan who got it from Jack. Mia just left here. She said she was staying at your place, but I know she’s stopping by her apartment first. If I could, I’d go cover her.”

  “I’ll go. Thanks for the heads-up.” Reed pocketed his cell phone. But first, he’d talk to Beth. He took the stairs two at a time, then knocked on her door. Loud music played inside and he couldn’t hear her answer. “Beth? I need to talk to you.”

  “Go away.”

  He jiggled the door, found it locked. “I need to talk to you. Open the door. Now.”