Still Waters [A Kyra Moray Mystery]

by Deanna Lee

  * * * *

  Her gun was gone. The familiar weight was the first thing she missed. She sat bolt upright, her hand searching for it.

  "It's on my desk, along with your comm-u and p-pc.” He stood from the chair he was sitting in just across from her. “You look better."

  Kyra sat up and swung her feet to the floor. “I didn't ask you to take off my gun."

  "You didn't say I couldn't, either."

  She stood from the couch and shook back her hair as she reached for her weapon. As she strapped it on, she noticed that her comm-u and p-pc had been turned off. She turned them on and offered him a glare. “If I'd known you were going to be so highhanded, I would have gone home."

  "You needed the sleep."

  "I'm working a very difficult case. I will not tolerate your interference with my job.” She flipped the p-pc open and checked her inbox.

  "Nothing has happened while you slept."

  "That's beside the point, and you damn well know it. I'm just fucking you.” She turned, in time to take one step back as he advanced on her. Irritated that she'd backed away from him, Kyra jerked her head at the door. “I thought you didn't get personal in your place."

  Alex moved closer still and pressed her against the desk, pinning her by placing his hands on either side of her. “You're just fucking me."

  "That's what I said,” she ground out through clenched teeth.

  "Yet you came over here to my place ... to be with me, to sleep. Those aren't the actions of a woman who's just fucking me.” He let his eyes drift briefly to her mouth before meeting her gaze. “You're irritated with me, fine. But I won't tolerate your demeaning what we're developing here because it scares you."

  "I'm not afraid of you.” She pushed at his chest and wasn't surprised when he didn't budge.

  "No, but you are afraid I might mean something to you."

  "Back the fuck off.” She glared at him pointedly. “Before I have to hurt you."

  Alex lifted his hands from the desk and took a step back from her. “Your partner arrived about forty minutes ago. I imagine if you're nice to her, she might let you participate in her feast.” He watched her as she put the devices in their holders on her belt and adjusted her gun again. “You know you're far more naked without your gun than you are without your clothes."

  "Oh, really?” She raised an eyebrow and then looked toward the couch. “I did need the sleep."

  "Yeah, you did."

  "Might be a while before you get me naked again."

  "I'm a grown man; I don't need sex on an hourly basis.” He walked back to her. Carefully, he straightened the strap of her holster and then met her gaze. “Thank you for trusting me."

  "You think I trust you?” she asked with a small smile.

  "I know you trust me. You never would have fallen asleep with me otherwise.” He leaned against his desk and looked over her face. “Now, back to the sex...” He stopped when she laughed. “Food first and then filthy talk, if you have time."

  "Yeah.” She let him guide her from the office. Ana was in the booth they'd used earlier in the week, a table full of food before her. “She really is having a feast."

  "She couldn't decide what she wanted.” Alex laughed. “I just told the cook to set her up with a variety."

  Ana pointed in Alex's direction with a French fry. “I have a crush on him."

  "It's okay. I think I do, too.” Kyra slid into the booth across from her and snagged a napkin. “Extra fork?"

  Ana passed her a set of silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin, and then a plate. “Desi's team is working the city cameras. They're trying to pick up the van on the road during the time that the bodies were dumped. So far, no luck, but it's a good idea."

  "Yeah.” Kyra looked up at Alex. “Joining us?"

  "No.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “I have a few things to take care of."

  They both watched him walk away.

  "When this is settled, you owe that man a fuckfest on my behalf.” Ana speared a shrimp with her fork. “And I mean all the dirty, unsaid stuff people do, too."

  "Make me a list.” Kyra browsed through her inbox as she dumped a basket of chicken fingers onto her plate. “What else?"

  "Parker positively linked Stacey Valteau to the victim pool, based on the DNA evidence on Casey."

  "Good. Good.” Kyra checked her comm-u and frowned. “I slept five hours?"

  "Yeah, it reaffirms my theory that you could be human.” Ana flipped through her own notes. “A Marta Jonathan turned herself in to the colony security on the moon just over an hour ago. She has the fairy tattoo. They've put a guard on her, and all incoming transports to the moon are being monitored for our suspect."

  "That's a break for his pattern."

  "Nope, she worked in New Orleans until about May, when SETI officially announced they'd picked up a radio signal of nonterrestrial origin. Marta Jonathan is a deep-space radar specialist. She's working with SETI and the government on the signal to determine its origin."

  "That stuff creeps me out. Move on. No talk about aliens."

  Ana nodded. “Okay, so we've got one victim left."

  "When he killed Casey, he opened his victim pool up considerably. We can't even begin to assume that the tattoos are the only thing he needs."

  "I agree."

  Kyra's head jerked up, and she nodded to Inspector Liz Givens when she slid into the booth beside Ana. “Hey."

  "Hey.” She took the plate and silverware Ana offered. “You women sure know how to eat."

  "It's our professional duty to remind the public that we don't live on doughnuts.” Ana offered her a basket of shrimp. “You can get the menu if you want."

  "No, I'll just graze on what's available.” She put her own p-pc on the table and met Kyra's gaze as Ana piled food on her plate. “I've spoken at length with Casey's mother and stepfather. They admit she harbored some resentment that it was rumored her father was a bad cop. However, she'd never exhibited impulsive behavior and wouldn't have attempted to apprehend a suspect on her own."

  Kyra nodded her agreement and motioned with a chicken finger for Liz to continue.

  "Her ex-boyfriend is a clean-cut lawyer in finance. He liked banging a cop and seemed pretty shaken up about her death.” Liz's mouth tightened. “He was one of those fortunate souls who caught it on the news."

  "Eat.” Kyra pointed at her plate.

  "Oh.” Liz reached down into her bag and handed Kyra a box. “You got this in the afternoon mail. Dr. Marcos has already had it inspected for prints; nothing exterior."

  Kyra took the box and set aside her plate. “Great. I wonder what the bastard has sent me now?"

  She sliced open the tape with a knife from her silverware set and opened the box. Accepting the gloves that Ana wordlessly offered across the table, she pulled the secure-foam free from the box and sat back against the booth. She glared at the wax figure with pure distaste. The little gold badge and dark hair that flowed from the head of the Voodoo doll made it clear whom he wanted the doll to represent. “What a fucking cliché."

  She tilted and turned it so that Ana and Liz could see it.

  "It's a Voodoo doll.” Ana's nose wrinkled as she frowned.

  "A doll such as this serves little purpose, and it's just a tourist trinket.” Kyra set the box down and pushed it away from her a little.

  "Then why do it?” Liz took the box and frowned at the doll. “I'd be insulted if I were you—you have a much better figure.” She inclined her head. “Do you think the stickpin in the genital area represents his belief that you have a penis, or is he threatening you?"

  "It's a threat.” All three women jerked and looked at Alex, who had come to stand beside Kyra. “Close the box."

  Kyra took the box and closed it carefully. She met Alex's gaze and noticed the tension there. The doll had upset him. “It's just a game for him."

  "Take that to Clara.” He clenched his jaw and looked briefly at the box.

 
"I will."

  He touched her hair. “You take this man out before he harms what's mine."

  She watched him walk away and fought a smile. “I just love an arrogant man."

  "Nice ass, too.” Liz shook her head. “I thought you were gay."

  "Fuck you,” Kyra snapped.

  "Yeah, I was actually looking forward to trying."

  Ana sputtered, and Kyra started laughing. “Thank you, Inspector. I haven't been complimented like that in ages.” She stood. “Come along, ladies. We'll visit the Voodoo queen, and then we are going to hunt down the Belton family."

  * * * *

  Clara was fixing the scarecrow's hat when Kyra came to a stop in the driveway. “She's going to be pissy."

  "Isn't she always?” Liz asked.

  "Yeah, pretty much."

  Clara turned and glared at them. “Inspector Moray, are you creating some sort of pack of bitch cops?"

  "Task force for a serial killer.” Kyra pulled off her sunshields as she exited the car. “Did Alex call you?"

  "Yes.” Clara pursed her lips. “It's the only damn reason that I'm willing to receive you again. I told you I didn't want to be involved with this case further. We'll have this meeting outside."

  Kyra pulled the box out of her bag and handed it to her. “He sent it in the same method he sent the govi."

  Clara opened the box. “Alex was displeased with this."

  "Yes."

  "More for the threat it represents than the actual doll. As you know, practitioners of Voodoo rarely use dolls like this. I know none that use them in practice today. It was a way that established religions used to create fear of Voodoo.” She stared at the doll for a moment. “After you've had the doll inspected by your lab, remove the pin."

  "It means nothing.” Kyra responded.

  "Remove the pin.” Clara repeated. She handed the box back to her. “I saw the news report."

  "And?"

  "He's killing cops, female cops. He feels threatened by you. You, specifically. If you make yourself available, he will try to take you."

  "Did you know Jake Belton?"

  "Yes. His wife was a very active part of the Voodoo community. The entire family died in a house fire.” Clara turned back to the scarecrow and began to straighten its shirt. “He was a cruel man, and was on the way to raising a son who would be just like him."

  "We think that Jake and Aaron might have survived the fire."

  "Then you are after Aaron as the killer.” Clara nodded.

  "Yes."

  "He was a cruel and thoughtless child. His mother, Nera, often sought my counsel on Aaron. She believed her husband encouraged Aaron to be violent."

  "Jake and Nera had marital problems?” Kyra asked.

  "Jake joined one of those antigovernment movements. He would take Aaron to the meetings. Jake Belton hated women. Frankly, I was surprised when he and Nera married. I thought she had better sense."

  "Do you know which movement Jake joined?"

  "Yes.” Clara's mouth twisted in distaste. “The New South Militia."

  * * * *

  "Okay.” Ana fastened her harness and pulled down a docking station in the back of the vehicle so she could work. “Tell me about the scarecrow."

  "Are you sure?"

  "I couldn't be more freaked out,” she promised solemnly.

  "She dresses it in her dead son's clothes.” Kyra put the transport in gear and glanced in her rearview mirror. “Her son was declared dead fifteen years ago. Despite a serious effort by the NOPD and the family, no body was ever recovered."

  Ana focused on her p-pc. “Okay, I was wrong."

  Kyra chuckled. “Run a search on the New South Militia."

  "Already in progress. Looks like it was a group led mostly by older men. There are only a few known members still living. Two are currently working on the Space Station Delta; the other is ... I'll be damned."

  "Great, I'm so glad you're praying for me,” Kyra returned dryly.

  "Billy Joe Canton.” Ana met her eyes in the rearview mirror.

  "Well, we'll both be damned.” Kyra checked her comm-u. “Have him picked up. Our next conversation isn't going to be in that cramped little shop of his."

  "Want me to ask the transport team to pick you up that vest?"

  "Shut up."

  Chapter Fifteen

  Billy Joe Canton, sans really hot leather vest, was in an interrogation room by the time Kyra returned to the station. Ana and Liz had followed her into the observation room. Billy Joe paced around the small space, his hands fisted in the pockets of his jeans. His white hair was neatly combed.

  "He looks nervous."

  "Riding in the back of a police van can be nerve-wracking."

  "Yeah.” Kyra crossed her arms over her breasts as she watched him. “I'm going to go in first. Give me ten minutes, Ana, and come in if he isn't talking. Make sure you have your crown in place."

  Ana watched her leave. “I figured she'd take you in."

  Liz chuckled. “Nah, Inspector Moray likes to be the big dog in the room; the big, bad, vicious dog. I almost feel sorry for this guy. He'll be in shreds, and he won't even know it for hours."

  * * * *

  Kyra sat down at the table and stared at Billy Joe until he took the chair across from her. “Would you like an advocate at this time?"

  "Don't need a fucking lawyer. Did nothing wrong."

  "We've yet to determine that."

  "Look, you call me, you come to my place, and I answered all of your questions.” He stabbed his finger at the surface of the table as he spoke. “You got no call to drag me down here. I was just getting ready to eat when your uniforms showed up."

  "I can see that you get a meal if you need one.” Kyra looked over his face, and she shook her head. “Tell me something, Billy Joe."

  "I'll tell you anything you wanna hear,” he declared.

  "New South Militia."

  He stilled and pulled his hands off the table. “That was almost twenty years ago."

  "Such groups were commonplace back then. Must have been the thing to do, find an antigovernment group to belong to, stockpile weapons, and wait for the rebellion to begin. Is that what you did?"

  "Sure, and so did half of the citizens in this country. The president was lying to us. Our children were dying in a war that was poorly planned and executed for pure power."

  "I remember."

  "Barely, I imagine.” He shrugged. “So I found some people who thought like me, and we prepared for the worst. It wouldn't be the first time men and women in this country have taken up arms to defend our freedom."

  "Jake Belton."

  "Yeah, knew that crazy son of a bitch."

  "Tell me about him."

  "He was just crazy, is all. Beat on his woman. I never took with that crap, you know. You make a woman your family, and you treat her like you'd treat yourself. My mama taught me that.” Billy Joe shrugged.

  "Jake beat Nera,” she prompted.

  "Yeah, that was her name. She was one of those Voodoo priestesses. Hell, if I hadn't had enough respect for women not to hit one, I sure as hell wouldn't have hit a woman in Voodoo. I kept telling him he was going to wake up one day without his dick or something."

  "She never defended herself?"

  "Don't rightly know. He slapped her one night in front of me. I swear you could feel the hatred moving between them. You'd think she'd leave, but she didn't."

  "And he killed her."

  "That's what they say.” Billy Joe shrugged. “Fact is, no one rightly knows. That house burned for nearly two days. The fire department couldn't put it out. They just stood around and tried to make sure that the houses close to it didn't catch fire, too."

  "And they didn't?"

  "No. They didn't. Didn't even scorch the grass in the yard. The fucker just burned down to the foundation and then the fire went out. Damnedest thing I'd ever seen.” He pulled his arms close to his body and shook his head.

  "Do you believe tha
t the Belton family died in that house?"

  "Not for sure."

  "Have you seen a member of the Belton family since that night?” Kyra asked pointedly.

  He leaned forward and cleared his throat. “See, I had me a trapping shack near their place. Just used it to store skins while I was curing them. About a year after that house burned, I'm up in my shack and I go out the door, and I see something moving in the trees on the Belton land. I ain't gonna say I'm a man that spooks easily—but I cleared my shack out and never went back."

  "Never?"

  "Never.” He cleared his throat. “My wife teased me a bit about it. Made me feel foolish, but I couldn't make myself go back."

  "It's been twenty years."

  "Yes, and that's just fine with me. I didn't need that trapping shack anyways. I had two deeper in the bayou. Better places, and I didn't have to worry about the pissed-off ghost of a Voodoo priestess messin’ with me."

  "A ghost?"

  "Go ahead, laugh at an old man.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Knew you were a mean one when you come to my place.” His gaze narrowed. “Should have bought the vest."

  "Jake Belton?"

  "Yeah."

  "What else about him?"

  "He was a whoring bastard if I ever met one. When he wasn't kicking the shit out of his wife, he was finding some woman to bang on. I met him through the New South Militia.” He cut his gaze toward her. “But I imagine you already knew that."

  "Yes.” She folded her hands on the table in front of her and met his gaze. “What about Aaron?"

  "He was his father's son."

  "Elaborate."

  "Ah, hell, he was just a kid. He hadn't had time to become anything when that house burned down.” He paused and swallowed hard. “Aaron was mean, like a wild dog sometimes."

  "His father was rough on him?"

  "Yeah, you could say that."

  "Aaron was mean,” Kyra repeated and then raised an eyebrow.

  Billy Joe shrugged. “Caught him skinning an animal once."

  "He hunted with his father?"

  "Sure; it was illegal at the time, but most folks in these parts didn't care. Anyways, the thing is, the animal wasn't dead."

  "He was skinning a live animal?

  "Yeah, his neighbor's cat.” Billy Joe pursed his lips. “It was something else, that is for sure. I made him set the animal free, but it had to be put down."