"What makes you say that?"
"There's a truck outside. It's been parked there since we got here and no one's come out of it. It's just sitting there."
"Where?"
Anderson motioned with his head and Leo took his hand away. After another drink from his cup, Leo glanced over his shoulder. When their eyes met again, Leo's brows were knitted together and Anderson knew he was worried.
"Like I said, it's probably nothing."
"I'm getting a bad feeling myself. Let's take our food to go and see if it follows."
Anderson nodded.
Leo signalled to the waitress and when she came over, he relayed what their intentions were. She left them again and Anderson felt his heart suddenly racing.
"When I was a kid, I thought my father would live forever. Even as I became an adult I still believed that. One day I told him there was no way he could leave me—that he would have to live forever because I just couldn't see my life without him. You wanna know what he said?"
Leo said nothing, so Anderson looked at him. He nodded.
"He said the good Lord would only take him when I no longer needed a father. Can you believe that? How can a father think there'll be a day when his child no longer needed him?"
"When the child grows up."
"No. A child never gets too old—so old that he doesn't need his father. Sometimes I go to pick up the phone to call him and then I remember. He's gone. I hear the phone ring and my heart instantly soars then crashes."
"I'm sorry, baby."
"Sorry for the wait, guys." The waitress interrupted. "Here are your orders. That will be fifteen seventy-five."
Leo reached for his wallet and though Anderson tried talking him out of paying, Leo simply handed the woman money and a tip then eyed Anderson. He was tempted to kiss Leo then but wasn't sure how what would end. He wasn't sure if Leo wanted to do that. He was getting up when Leo took his hand and dropped a kiss to his lips.
"Are you ready?" Leo wanted to know.
"No time like the present."
"Okay, when we go outside, keep your head down and head straight for the car. Don't hurry. Don't look at the truck. Act normal. Got it?"
"Got it."
They walked from the diner talking about Anderson's job. At the car, they climbed in and Anderson instantly put on his seat belt. To alleviate the stress, he peered into their meal bag as Leo started the car and pulled from the parking lot. After a couple of minutes, Anderson glanced in the mirror and his heart started racing again.
"Shit." Leo must have seen it too.
There, behind them, was the truck.
"I guess I wasn't crazy," Anderson spoke. "What do we do now?"
"Now we find out who it is and what he wants."'
"Who? Leo, we know who it is—and we know what he wants."
"Hang on."
Without warning, Leo turned into a nearby parking lot, hung a U-turn, and came out of the lot behind the truck. He flipped a switch on the dashboard and the sirens began blaring. The lights on the dashboard began flashing and Anderson eyed them, wondering how he hadn't seen them before. The car was going faster and faster. He glanced at Leo but the cop was focused on the road. Anderson refocused on the vehicle they were now chasing. The truck had picked up the pace and was zigzagging through traffic at blinding speed. The food in Anderson's lap was instantly forgotten and he placed it on the floor and gripped the sides of his seat.
"Why do they always run?" Leo muttered.
Most of the cars ahead of them pulled out of their way. The truck narrowly missed a family van and swerved dangerously close to a motorcycle. Anderson's heart was trying to jump out his chest. He yelped when the side of Leo's car smashed into the truck now before they both went wide to avoid hitting a car. Leo swung around the front of the car before them and smashed into the side of the truck. Their tires squealed loudly and the smell of burnt rubber filled the air. The truck pulled off onto a side street and Leo slowed down long enough to pull into the lane behind it. He them rammed the truck a few times before it swerved all over the road and went front first into a ditch.
"Are you all right?" Leo asked, gripping Anderson's shoulders.
"Yes," Anderson panted.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Go!"
"Keep your head down."
The moment Leo was out of the car Anderson pushed his head up and watched Leo in action. The cop had his gun out and was running toward the truck like some wild, military commando with precision of movement and body. When he shoved his gun back into his holster and walked toward their car again, Anderson climbed out.
"What?"
"He's gone. I'm getting real sick of this." He pulled his cell phone out and pressed it to his ear. "Shit. Daniel isn't picking up."
They sat in the car while Leo called again and spoke to someone in the office. Anderson didn't notice when he was finished. He was too busy going over in his head what just happened.
"First my father, then all those other victims, then he was in your house, and now this? When is this going to stop?"
"I spoke to the precinct. They're going to talk to the cops close to here and have them send over a forensics team. I can't touch anything in that truck until go over it. But if this guys is this close, that means he knows about coach. We can't tarry here too long. There's plenty to head back and do."
Chapter Fourteen
Leo called the bank and though he allowed Anderson speak with the bank manager, they refused to let Daniel anywhere near the book without Anderson being there or sending his permission in writing.
"We're going to have to get a warrant."
"There's no need for that, really. All we have to do is go back and I can talk to them."
"Andy. We won't be back and in the meantime, Daniel could be running down these leads," Leo explained.
Leo watched the way Anderson looked away from him. It was almost as if just the sight of Leo made him sick. He knew Anderson wasn't good with someone else handling the book but at that moment he had no choice. They couldn't keep dragging out the case, waiting for the killer to attack again. How many more people had to die before he could catch this guy? The next time the killer struck, it could be Anderson. That thought sobered Leo and broke his heart. The thought of not being able to hold Anderson, to feel him tight around his cock, to wake up with him in his arms, made Leo's eyes water and burn.
He touched Anderson's shoulder gently as sirens rang out in the distance. "I know you don't like this, baby. I do. But please, we don't have a choice. The warrant is just to get the bank to release the book since we are far from there right now. As soon as we're done, we'll put it right back."
"I'd just rather be there for this."
"But you understand. Tell me you understand."
Anderson's shoulders rose and fell but the professor leaned over and kissed him. It was a tender, sweet kiss that did something magnificent to him.
"I understand. I promise."
Leo took his hand back and made the call in to his office. By the time he was done, the other cops were there with their forensics team. Climbing from the car, he showed his badge.
"Who's in charge?" he questioned.
"That would be me." A tall, lanky detective said extending a hand. The man didn't look too old, though he was slightly balding. "Detective Lazarus."
"How's it going? Leo Sung Kim."
"They tell me this is a part of a serial killer case over in Manhattan."
Leo nodded. "Yeah. The sucker followed us out here and got away. He couldn't have gotten far."
"I'll have my men check out the woods and put up some road blocks. You know what this guy look like?"
Leo shook his head. "That's the part that's pissing me off most about this whole thing. But in the meantime, I'll leave you guys to work. We are heading over to get someone for protective custody, so we can't really hang around here and wait."
"Don't worry about it. Your captain told us what's going on. We'll de
liver everything we find personally."
Leo pulled his card from his back pocket and handed it to Detective Lazarus, who did the same. "I'm hoping to get back to the station by tomorrow at the latest."
The two men shook hands again and Leo walked over to the truck, where a couple of men were busy dusting the truck for prints. He doubted they'd find anything but he was glad they were being thorough.
"Tear it apart if you have to—but I want to know everything about this truck," he told them.
They nodded and after a mock salute to the detective, he climbed back into the car and was on the road again. It didn't take long for them to reach Coach Jessops' place. Leo knocked on the door and waited.
"Kenneth, get the door!" A female voice hollered.
"Stop yapping at me, woman!" Coach Jessops retorted.
Leo chuckled. The two were the same as they were when he was a child. But he knew no matter how many times Coach told Mildred to stop yapping at him, he wouldn't have it any other way. That man loved that woman more fiercely than Leo ever thought he'd be able to love anyone and so completely. The thought of giving someone his heart so desperately scared Leo immensely.
A small moment passed before the door opened and the elderly African American male grinned widely. "Kim!" He reached out and hugged Leo tightly.
"Hello, Coach."
"This your husband?" Coach Jessops wanted to know, eyeing Anderson.
Leo felt his cheeks go hot. He couldn't speak. His heart hammered and his cock perked up in agreement. All he could do was grin like a moron.
"Sorry, no. I'm Anderson Williams. I'm just a friend."
"Too bad. You really look like husband material," Coach Jessops said in a somewhat disappointed voice. "Come in, you two."
He stepped aside but Leo allowed Anderson to enter before him. He turned and glanced around and caught sight of the plain squad car sitting just a small distance away. Taking a breath, he stepped through the door and listened to it close behind him.
"Who's at the door?"
Leo grinned and snuck down the familiar hall. The house no longer smelled like cookies like it was when he was a child. Still he could imagine it. Stepping to the doorway, he folded his arms and smiled. "So, where are the cookies?"
Mildred turned at his voice and Leo saw the instant her face lit up and she bolted around the counter as fast as her legs and cane could carry her. She fell into his chest and he hugged her as tightly as he could without hurting her.
"Oh Leo!" she sobbed into his chest. "How have you been?"
"I've been good, Nana," Leo whispered.
Though the halls no longer smelled like cookies, Nana smelled the same—like cocoa, butter, and love.
She stepped back. "You staying? I heard you became a cop."
He nodded, tucking some hair behind his ear before reaching out to gently brush a tear from her eyes. "I did. Made detective two years ago."
"Ain't that something? You know, you're the last person I thought would become a cop. I mean, sure I thought you had massive potential, but a cop?"
Leo grinned. "I know."
"Let me get you something to drink while you talk to Jess."
"Oh, Nana, I know where everything is. I can find it."
"You sure?"
Leo nodded and set about getting some drinks together. He then carried the tray with Mildred close behind him to where Anderson was in deep conversation with Coach Jessops. After he served them, he sat and cleared his throat.
"I wish I could say this was a social call," Leo confessed. "And I'm sorry I haven't visited. There's something I need to talk to you about."
"What is it, son?" Coach asked.
"It's about one of the cases I've been working. There's a serial killer in the city and he's targeting people I care about."
Coach's eyes widened and Mildred gasped. "Explain," Mildred said simply.
"Remember Jazmon Williams?" Leo asked.
"Yes, of course!" Coach nodded. "He was the man who brought you to my attention. How is he doing?"
"Sorry, where are my manners. This is his son, Anderson."
The Jessops looked over at Anderson who smiled and waved almost shyly. In any other situation, Leo would have smiled at that for it was so damn cute. But he was about to give his friends some bad news.
"You're Jazmon's boy?" Coach questioned. "It's good to finally meet you. Your father is a good man."
"He was the first victim," Leo explained. "Then Mrs Harrison
"No!" Mildred was incredulous. "How does Anderson come into all of this?"
Leo glanced over at Anderson, who nodded slightly at him and he smiled. Rubbing his hands together, he looked down at them for a mere moment then looked from Mildred to the Coach. "Well, Anderson and I are sort of seeing each other. I mean we haven't had a chance to really go out because of the case and trying to find the killer but…"
"You don't have to explain." Mildred smiled.
"So what about us?" Coach wanted to know.
"You two are people I love. You're all that I have left now and I thought the killer would be coming here."
Mildred drew closer to her husband's side and he wrapped a protective arm around her. "So, we're in danger?"
"I'm afraid so. I'm so sorry." He didn't tell them he was followed on the way there and the killer was loose. There was only so much information he thought they could handle. He silently vowed then he would end this before anyone else got hurt.
His cell phone rang and he excused himself to get it. As he walked to the back of the house, he glanced back to see Anderson kneeling before the Jessops and laying a hand on Mildred's shoulder.
"Kim."
"Hey, Leo, it's Isha. I didn't know who else to call."
"What's going on?"
"I really wanted to tell you this face to face but the captain told me you're in Elmont right now?"
"Yeah. What? You sound rattled."
"One of my guys managed to put together a broken vase from Anderson's place. He found a partial print on it. He was swamped with work so I told him I'd run it. I tried running it for a while but nothing. And you know how stubborn I am. After staring at it for a bit, I realised it was flipped upside down and that's why running it wasn't really working."
"Isha! Damn it!"
"I'm sorry, Leo. But this is hard for me. I don't even think it means anything but I… the partial came back as Daniel's."
Leo went numb. He fumbled with the counter in the kitchen and fell against it heavily. "Which Daniel?"
"Your Daniel."
"Wha—I mean… my Daniel?"
"Yes, Kim. Daniel Fergis. NYPD."
"That… that has to be a mistake. There's no way Daniel's print is anywhere in that house. It shouldn't be. It's a mistake. Maybe it was contaminated. Run it again."
"I did. Four times. It still comes back Daniel."
"That doesn't make sense… Why would Daniel…? Listen to me. I need you to do me a favor. Don't ask anyone else for help and don't let anyone else know the results you just gave me. I need you to run a background into Daniel. Go beyond everyone else. Dig deeper."
"Leo. I'm the ME!"
"Who used to be the best in the labs. Do this for me, Isha. Keep this on the DL. Find out all you can about Daniel. I don't want to believe my partner is in this. There has to be a different explanation. I'm going to stick around here until I can figure out what to do. I don't know how long they're going to pay a couple of cops to watch this house and I can't leave coach and Mildred high and dry for this joker to come by here."
"All right."
"Be careful."
Isha promised she would and Leo walked back to sit down with the others.
"What's wrong?" Anderson asked.
"Nothing," Leo lied. "Coach, can we spend the night?"
"Of course," Mildred said. "What kind of question is that? We have a guest room upstairs with an en-suite bathroom. Make yourselves at home."
They dispersed. Mildred escorted them up the s
tairs. They left Coach looking out the curtains of the front window right after he locked the front door and slipped the security chain on. Leo felt awful.
"Here you are, gentlemen."
"Thank you," Anderson spoke. "We really appreciate this."
She smiled at Anderson, touched Leo's cheek before closing the door behind her. Leo was looking out the window, arms folded across his chest.
"Why do you call her Nana?" Anderson questioned.
"What?" Leo shook his head and glanced at Anderson, feeling more lost than he'd ever felt.
"Mildred. Why do you call her Nana?"
Leo smiled then. "Because she's the closest thing to a grandmother I have. She's loved me over the years like I had her blood in my veins and I can't think of a better name to call her."
Anderson nodded.
He hoped the conversation would end there but Anderson's next words caused him to hang his head.
"Something happened during the phone call," Anderson's voice was low, yet crisp. "What was it?"
"Has Daniel ever been to your place?"
"Your partner, Daniel? Why would he be at my place?"
"Has he?"
"Leo, now is not the time to get jealous over some non-existent relationship with someone who seems to have a problem with me. I didn't know who he was until my dad died."
"And you're sure he's never been to your house?" Leo pushed. "Maybe at a holiday dinner and one of your friends brought someone you didn't know. That could happen."
"No. He's never been there," Anderson stressed.
"What do you mean he seems to have a problem with you?"
"The other day while I waited for you at the station, he asked me if we were seeing each other. I told him it was none of his business but he gave me this look."
"Andy, why didn't you tell me?"
Anderson shrugged. "I thought he was just trying to protect his partner. I mean a gay cop is one thing but a gay cop screwing a victim's son could cost a cop his badge."
Leo made no reply.
Anderson took his shoulder and tugged. "You're not making any sense."
"Isha managed to run a partial print they found at your place," Leo admitted. He couldn't meet Anderson's eyes. It would kill him if Daniel was really the one out to get him.
Love Lies Bleeding Page 11
