Lady in Red

by Stacy Claflin

  A pained look crossed her face and she pulled away. “I wouldn’t understand because I don’t have kids of my own.”

  Nick jolted. “That’s not what I meant. You’re every bit a mom to all four—”

  She rose, blinking quickly. “No. I get it. Excuse me.”

  He leaped up. “Genevieve, wait!”

  “I need to be alone.” She hurried out of the room.

  Nick started to chase her, but stopped. Collapsed onto the nearest couch. What had just happened? He went over everything he’d said trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong. He hadn’t said she couldn’t understand. Maybe the fact that she wasn’t a biological parent was a sensitive topic? It wasn’t something that had come up before.

  Or was she worried he wouldn’t want to have kids with her? Hadn’t they discussed that? It was hard to remember, given everything they’d been through lately. Hopefully, she knew he was there for her no matter what. And having kids of her own was something he’d never keep from her. In fact, despite already having four between them, he was looking forward to having a baby with her. Seeing what their children would be like.

  Maybe he needed to tell her that. But would she hear him out now? Or would he have to wait?

  Chapter 12

  Alex waved goodbye to Damon’s foster parents, and the two of them headed down the walkway to Alex’s car. He glanced over at the kid who was a solid five inches taller than him and every bit as muscular as his father, who they were about to visit at the prison infirmary.

  Damon kept his gaze down and his hands in his pockets.

  “Everything okay?” Alex remote unlocked his sedan.

  “Yeah.” Damon dragged his feet to the other side of the car.

  After pulling away from the curb, Alex glanced over at Damon. “Anything you want to talk about? I’m on your side.”

  Damon sighed. “It’s just some kids from school. I’m fine.”

  Alex turned on some music Ariana liked, hoping to put Damon at ease. Even though things had started off with each other on the wrong foot, Alex wanted to help the boy. His mom was dead and his abusive dad was in jail. Not only that, but he had proven himself to have Ari’s best interests in mind. “What’s up with the kids at school?”

  “Nothing.”

  Alex turned onto the main road. “You can’t kid a kidder. I got into fights all the time when I was your age.”

  Damon turned to him. “You did?”

  Alex laughed. “I wasn’t always an officer. In fact, most of the guys still think of me as the newbie even though I’m not anymore.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I messed up my life big time. I’m surprised Ariana hasn’t told you any stories.”

  He shrugged.

  Alex debated how much to share. He wanted Damon to open up—he needed a good male influence, and life had put Alex in his path. “I have plenty of demons. Dealt with drugs, alcohol, partying, and everything that went along with it. Pushed everyone I cared about away. But if I’d have let anyone in, things could’ve turned out differently.”

  “Seems like everything worked out. You have your family and job. Everybody who knows you likes you.”

  “Like I said, wasn’t always that way. I got in trouble for fighting all the time—not that I’m advocating it. I just felt like the world was against me, and didn’t know how to handle it.” Alex stopped at a light and met Damon’s gaze.

  He frowned. “Not sure you’d understand. There’s a group of jocks that hate me for having good grades. It was made worse when I had to tutor them. That’s why I’d rather tutor the middle schoolers. They don’t act like that.”

  Alex nodded. “Actually, I understand more than you’d think. Most of my fights were with the jocks.”

  “Really?” Damon’s eyes widened.

  “Yep.” Alex glanced at the green light and hit the gas. “A group of wrestlers decided I made an easy target. I proved them wrong, but that only added fuel to the fire.”

  Alex told him more stories for the rest of the drive. Damon didn’t open up, but he did relax. It was progress. Maybe he’d feel like talking on the way back. His mind was probably on having to see his dad, which they both knew he didn’t want to do. Not that Alex could blame him.

  Damon opened his bag and did homework.

  As Alex approached the prison, he turned down the radio.

  Damon muttered something.

  “What’s that?” Alex asked.

  “Nothing.” Damon sighed and shoved his things back into his backpack.

  After Alex showed his badge at the gate, he parked in the visitors’ lot. “We might not even be able to talk with him for very long since he’s in the infirmary.”

  “Why bother visiting at all?” Damon asked.

  “I have some questions for him, and it’s good for you to see your dad.”

  Damon scowled, pain flashing in his eyes. “How can it be good for me to see someone who’s destroyed my life?”

  Alex’s heart went out to the kid. In that moment, he looked more like a little boy than the muscular teenager he was.

  “See? You don’t even have a good answer.”

  Alex sighed. “He’s your only living relative.”

  “I’d rather it be my mom. I wish—” Damon shook his head. “Never mind.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” He shut the car door. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  Alex nodded. It seemed like he was almost making progress. “I’m not going to judge you.”

  Damon sized him up, his eyes filling with doubt.

  “Like you said, let’s get this over with.” Alex marched toward the entrance, just as eager to leave as his young companion. He had no desire to spend time with the man who tried to rip apart his family.

  His mind was far away as they checked in. They were led to a room in the infirmary where they could speak with Cal.

  “We’re not going to visit him in bed?” Damon asked once they were seated at the table with the glass partition and the phone to speak with the criminal.

  Alex shook his head. “It’s not a hospital, but he is sick, so we won’t be in the same room.”

  Damon looked around and his posture relaxed.

  A few minutes later, Cal appeared. Two officers led him. One shoved him in the seat and said something to him as he cuffed him to the table. The inmate had puffy red eyes, a red nose, and splotchy skin.

  Cal glared at Alex then picked up the phone.

  Alex grabbed the one on their side, trying to ignore the strong odor of cigarettes and heavy clashing perfumes.

  “Why are you bugging me?” Cal demanded. “Didn’t anyone tell you I’m sick? This flu’s gonna be the death of me.”

  “You wish.”

  “Let me talk to my kid.”

  “He has a name.”

  Cal narrowed his eyes.

  “You can talk to him after you answer my questions.” Alex stared him down.

  “Or I’ll answer your questions after I talk to my kid.”

  “Doesn’t work that way.”

  Cal’s eyebrows furrowed. “It does if you want me to talk to you.”

  “What do you know about the woman in the red dress?”

  The prisoner didn’t so much as flinch. Didn’t respond, either.

  “Has anyone mentioned her?” Alex asked.

  “I’ll talk to you after I speak to my son.”

  Alex kept the phone to his ear and his attention fixed on Cal. It was a battle of the wills, and he wasn’t going to lose. He hadn’t driven all this way to play games.

  Cal placed his phone on the receiver. He motioned for the guards who’d escorted him over.

  One guard lifted a brow toward Alex, still in his uniform.

  Alex shook his head, keeping the receiver to his ear, and the guards went back to their places.

  Cal’s nostrils flared. He crossed his arms and leaned back.

  Damon turned to Alex. “What now?”

  Ale
x nodded toward the door. “Pretend to leave.”

  “Gladly.” He pushed the chair back and marched away.

  Cal picked up the phone.

  Alex held back a smile and gave the inmate a stoic look. “Yes?”

  “Bring back my son and I’ll talk.”

  “Sure thing.” Alex covered the phone and waved Damon over.

  Disappointment washed over his face and he shuffled back to his seat.

  Alex turned back to Cal. “What do you know about the lady in red?”

  “You mean the song? Or maybe the movie?” The prisoner smirked. “Or are you too young to know about either of those, kid?”

  Anger churned in Alex’s gut, but he wasn’t about to let Cal get the best of him. “I’m no old man, but I know both of those. I happen to be talking about a kidnapper.”

  Cal tilted his head. “Some chick is abducting kids?”

  “Do you know anything?” Alex repeated.

  “Can’t say that I do.” Cal grinned.

  Alex wanted to punch something, as he always did around that man, but he didn’t let his expression betray his emotions. “So, they’re keeping you out of the loop these days?”

  “It’s probably another kidnapping ring. The dark web is a big place, you know. And aren’t the feds in charge of that now?” He arched a brow.

  Alex leaned forward, staring Cal down. “Not when it keeps happening in my backyard. To people I know.”

  Cal laughed. “They went after your family?”

  Alex shook his head and kept his gaze fixed on the criminal. “You tell your people that I kept my end of the bargain—I took my blog down—but I can just as easily put it back up if the abductions don’t stop. Do you understand?”

  Cal yawned.

  It was a good thing a glass partition stood between them.

  “I told you all I know, kid, and that’s nothing.” Cal glanced over at Damon. “Let me talk to my son.”

  Alex gritted his teeth. “Pass along my message.”

  “Sure.” Cal shrugged.

  Alex glowered at him before pulling the phone away and turning to Damon. “You don’t have to listen to him. The moment you start to get uncomfortable, hang up.”

  “Okay.” He took the receiver and put it up to his ear.

  On the other side of the glass, Cal’s mouth moved. Damon didn’t show any emotion in response.

  More than anything, Alex wanted to go around to the other side and beat the answer out of him. Then to throw in some extra punches for what he did to Zoey. Granted, it wasn’t as bad as what Dave had done to her—not by a long shot. But he’d still assaulted her, tried to ruin their marriage by making Alex think his wife had stepped out on him.

  That picture Cal had sent him was permanently burned into his mind. It haunted his dreams. Dug itself into his hidden insecurities, popping up at the worst possible moments.

  Cal smirked at him as he spoke to Damon. It was as if the man knew what Alex was thinking. But that was ridiculous.

  Alex had to get him out of his head. It wasn’t healthy.

  Damon’s hand shook, and he nearly dropped the phone.

  Behind the glass, Cal laughed.

  Alex grabbed the phone from Damon and brought it to his ear. Stared down the heartless prisoner. “Unless you have something to tell me about the woman in the red dress, we’re done here!”

  “Suits me.” Cal waggled his brows.

  Alex would not let Cal see how much he was getting to him. “Remember to pass my message along. All I have to do is push one button, and my blog goes back up.”

  Cal smirked.

  Alex returned the phone to its place and turned back to Damon. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 13

  Nick read the top paper on the file for the third time, but it didn't make any more sense than it had the other two times. Not when his mind kept wandering.

  Genevieve had gone to sleep before he could talk to her about their misunderstanding the night before, and then he’d been called in early to deal with a case that needed his immediate attention.

  He set down the file and yawned. Maybe another coffee would help. A jolt of caffeine could be just what he needed to get through his paperwork. The never-ending pile.

  Mary smiled at Nick as she stepped away from the coffee maker. “Morning, Captain.”

  He tried to return the gesture. “Good morning, Mary.”

  She gave him a sympathetic glance. “Need anything, sir?”

  “That obvious?” He poured himself a cup and added milk.

  “I know the look. My late husband was a captain, as well. It’s a tough job. Takes a lot out of you.”

  Nick stopped stirring the drink and arched a brow. “I never knew that about your husband.”

  She nodded. “I always enjoyed visiting his precinct. After he passed and I grew lonely, I knew exactly the environment I wanted for work.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about your husband, but I’m glad you decided to join us.” He finally managed a genuine smile. “And not just because we no longer have to drink stale-tasting coffee.”

  Mary beamed. “I appreciate it, sir. Let me know if I can help in any way.”

  “Will do.” He nodded and went back into his office, sipping the hot beverage.

  Nick sat down, shoved aside all thoughts and worries, then hit the paperwork. His mind tried to get in the way, but he wouldn’t let it. The coffee helped. Just as he was getting into the swing of it, there was a knock on his door.

  Of course there was.

  He glanced up to see Alex on the other side. His friend would take one look at him and know something was wrong.

  Nick waved him in, anyway.

  Alex flung open the door. “Did you hear?”

  “What?”

  He raced over and pressed his palms on the desk. “The lady in red!”

  “Was she captured?”

  Alex shook his head, breathing hard. “An attempted abduction. The kid described her as a woman with a red dress!”

  Nick leaped up from his chair, sending it crashing into the wall. “Let’s go! Where?”

  “Wu and Anderson are already on it. They were only a few minutes away, finishing up at a home invasion.”

  “Where is it?” Nick’s mind raced.

  “Over by the hotel that caught fire a few months back.”

  “What’s the connection? None of her attempted abductions are close together. The only thing they have in common is they’re within the city limits.”

  Alex sat in the chair across from him. “That and each girl has been safely returned.”

  “She isn’t very good.” Nick pulled his chair from the wall and slunk down, lost in thought. “Only managed to nab one of three kids.”

  “Maybe the actual kidnapping isn’t the point.”

  Nick tilted his head. “Then what would it be?”

  “Sending a message.”

  “About what?”

  “That’s the question.” Alex frowned. “I went to visit Cal last night, and he didn’t appear to know anything. With as arrogant as he was being, I’d think he’d be rubbing it in my face if he did know something.”

  “And you think it’s his ring sending you a message?”

  Alex shrugged. “I don’t know why. I took down my blog like they wanted. Are they taunting me? Trying to say something else?”

  “Have you spoken to one of the agents on the case?”

  “Not yet, but it’s clear I should.”

  Nick tapped his desk and tried to piece everything together. “They might not even be aware of any of this. Two abductions, and one that was found shortly after the missing report.”

  Alex nodded. “Maybe they don’t want the feds to know.”

  “Could be. Is the artist going to talk with the kid?”

  “I’d imagine so. I want to see if it’s the same woman.”

  Nick clenched his fists. “Believe me, so do I.”

  “I know. How’s Tinsley? Talking more now?”r />
  “Yeah. She’s back to full sentences.” Nick frowned, recalling Genevieve storming off the night before.

  “Isn’t that good?” Alex looked confused.

  “It is.” Nick shoved his thoughts aside.

  “Something else bothering you?”

  Nick started to say no, but stopped himself. It was one thing to put off one of his officers, but another thing to keep something from his best friend. He took a deep breath. “Yes, but now isn’t the time to discuss it. We need to find that psychopath in the red dress.”

  Alex rose. “I’ll call Wu and make sure the forensic artist is going to talk with the kid. Want to grab lunch in an hour?”

  Nick glanced at his fitness watch. “It’s already almost lunch time?”

  “Yeah. I can make reservations at—”

  “Let’s just grab sandwiches. I have a feeling we have a busy afternoon in store.”

  Alex nodded. “Sure. We can stop by the new wrap place over by the bowling alley. Rumor has it their food is really good.”

  “Sounds great.” Nick picked up the file and found where he’d left off.

  Alex left without another word.

  As soon as the door closed, Nick’s thoughts immediately went back to Genevieve. He just couldn’t get his thoughts off the situation. The moment he had, Tinsley’s disappearance was brought back to the forefront of his mind.

  He dropped the file on his desk and took a deep breath. Maybe he should just call her. They usually spoke on breaks. But she hadn't so much as texted him all morning.

  What if she wanted space? He’d be better off giving it to her. They could work things out when he got home. They always managed to get on the same page, even when things looked dire. It couldn’t have gotten worse than the time she showed up at his ex-wife’s house at the exact moment he stepped out of the bathroom in a towel.

  Nick shuddered just thinking about that mess. It hadn’t been what it’d looked like—not even close—but Genevieve had closed him out then. They’d made it through that, so they could certainly get through this little misunderstanding. It was so small in comparison.

  Knock, knock!

  Nick glanced over. Alex again. Already?

  He waved him in.

  “Ready for lunch?”