by Jana Leigh
They would soon get this was just a taste of his power. She would understand he did exactly what he had to, and when she came to him, he would kill her, too. He had a lot of practice over the years, “developing his signature,” as they called it. It was good he was so much smarter than those idiot cops were. His plan was in place and it was going beautifully. They would not be able to figure this shit out, he would have them chasing their tails for a long time.
It was time for him to go and put the next part of his plan into action. It was simple really, wreak havoc and let someone else take the fall. Like he was innocent or something, no, the asshole deserved everything he got. Since he was young, he knew that he was special, smarter, and more determined than anyone to rise above his childhood was. His so-called brother was not deserving of anything he was given.
He thought they could get rid of him. He didn’t care why, he only cared that they did. Discarded like an animal. He would show them, their precious little prince was going to go down, then he would rise and show them what he had made of himself—how successful he was. They couldn’t argue, they would beg him to come back into the fold. Then the pack would be his like it should have been all along, and he would be able to get what was his. Maybe even find a mate, the Redeemer laughed, fuck no, women were cheating, heartless bitches. Like his mother. She cheated on his father, and look what happened, it had destroyed his life.
When he was little, he knew he was Alpha, that he would be able to lead his own people. When he shifted for the first time, he endured that pain alone, locked in a room. His mentor and father later told him that that was the way of a true Alpha. Then the beatings came, all in an attempt to force him to control his shift and wolf. His father would repeatedly yell at him to take the pain and make it his, use it to control his wolf. Then his father would force him to shift and beat his wolf until his wolf finally attacked his father in a rage. Then he would laugh and start it all over again. Until the Redeemer grew more powerful than any other wolf, and then he killed his mentor like he was supposed to.
His mentor taught him how to hunt, to kill. When he was young, they would hunt together, laying the dead animals in the middle of the street for the humans to find and be terrified of. They accused several of the young boys in the neighborhood of being cruel. The police set up a watch, but they only found another pile of dead animals in the middle of the street. No one thought to look for a wolf; they were looking for a person. He had a good laugh about that.
Growing up, he found he was stronger, faster, and more intelligent than the normal child was. He dreamed of the day he would find his real family and they would welcome him warmly. It wasn’t hard to locate them though, and once he did, he had been shocked.
They kept one son and threw away the other for his mentor to raise. His mentor, already bearing the pain of his mate cheating, had to raise his bastard. He heard it enough, now his job was clear, it had been for a long time. He was the Redeemer, he cleansed the sluts before they were sent to hell. When he took over the largest Pack in America, everything would change. His word would be law, and he would be able to cleanse the souls of the bitches out in the open, then everyone would know how powerful he was.
The next stage was simple, one more kill and it should seal the bastard’s fate. He almost clapped his hands in glee as he thought of the way it would feel to kill her, the one who would pull all of this together. He closed his eyes and thought of the blood flowing over his hands as he cut her, her screams when she would beg him for mercy, which he would not give. It made him hard thinking about how he would fuck her into submission as he stole her life. It would be perfect.
Chapter Three
Captain Doyle listened to another cop chastise him, stunned that someone was speaking to him like this, no one dared. He was shocked into silence because he never let anyone speak to him like that, let alone a female. What the hell was going on? He just let her talk to him like a little child. Pissing on her scene? What did she mean by that?
Lex knew about Lt. Jewel Campbell. He knew she was one of the best and the FBI used her to help on some of their crime scenes. Lex couldn’t believe she spoke to him like that and he let her. He needed to find out more about Lt. Campbell. Even though she just talked to him like a five year-old, she stirred something in him. He started getting hard listening to her. Now he knew he was going to do a check on Lt. Jewel Campbell.
Lex called the only person who could get a background check done fast, that was his Alpha and his best friend, Retten Wexford. Lex was the only one who could call him Ret. They had been friends since the fifth grade. Mutt and Jeff were what his mom and dad called them.
Lex’s dad, Mitchell Doyle, worked for Ret’s dad. He was head of Andrew Wexford’s security. Ret and Lex played together and grew up best friends. Ret took over the family business making billions of dollars, and Lex followed his dream and became a cop. He worked his way up in the police department. He was now the Captain over the Criminal Investigation Division. He knew that Ret could get it done faster than him. He was rich and could pay people money to get the information legally or illegally, and Lex didn’t care which one. He needed that information now.
“Did you find out anything?” Ret asked Lex over the phone.
“Yeah, but I got cussed out by the lieutenant over the investigation. That’s why I’m calling. I need a background check done on her?” Lex said, growling into the phone.
“You’re joking, right?” When Lex didn’t say anything, Ret burst out laughing.
“Wow, the mighty Lex Doyle got cussed out by a woman, and someone who is a lesser rank than you.” Lex stayed silent on the phone.
“What is it, Lex, and why the hell did you let her get away with it?” Ret asked, amused that his friend was not responding, no one had ever stumped his friend like that.
“Well, I really was pissing on her scene, as she called it. I should have gone through the proper channels to get the information,” Lex responded carefully.
“Bullshit. It’s my construction site. I told James to call you. Who does she think she is?” Ret bellowed.
“Look, Ret. It is her investigation. Cops don’t like it when other people try to get information from witnesses. It’s just how we are. That is how information is leaked to the press. You know we are trying to keep a lid on this. It won’t take them long to put it together with the places the murders are occurring at and that you know the victims. Plus it won’t take her long to figure out that you own NY Pack Industries, too.” Lex sighed as he instructed Ret on Cop 101.
“Look, I need a background check done on her. I need it like tomorrow. I need to know who I’m going to be working with,” Lex said.
“Okay, but don’t take any shit off the rednecks,” Ret said.
Lex laughed because that was exactly what Jewel Campbell said to him over the phone. “Just get it to me quick. I’ll see you tonight at Marley’s for poker.” Lex hung up the phone. He clicked on his computer and googled Lt. Jewel Campbell.
***
Jewel sat at her desk thinking about the murders. She used her laptop putting the new victim’s information into her files. She went through the other victims’ information trying to find the connections. The only connection was money. Their looks were similar, but there had to be another connection between them. She looked up at Vander, who was chewing on his pencil looking at his computer screen. He was trying to find as much information as he could online about the victims and who owned NY Pack Industries. He noticed she was looking at him. “I know I take your breath away,” Vander smiled as he said it.
“Wow, now I know why you are still single.” Jewel laughed as she shook her head at Vander. “Okay, what do we know now about the victims? What is their connection to each other?” Jewel asked.
“Nothing, except they are all beautiful females who don’t have to work for a living because their daddies pay for them to play.” Vander snorted as he looked back at the computer.
“Well they do have some
thing else in common,” Jewel said.
“What?” Vander asked, but he continued surfing the computer.
“The venue. The victims were killed at a new construction site that belonged to Retten Wexford of Wexford Industries.” Vander looked at Jewel confused.
“Damn, Jewels, he is a billionaire. Do you think he had something to do with the murders?” Vander asked.
“We need to go back to the families and ask about Wexford, see if the victims had any ties to Mr. Wexford. I just bet my paycheck that he did.” Jewel never looked up after telling Vander that and about talking to the families of the victims.
“I don’t know, but he has an office here in Atlanta and in New York. We need to at least put him on the list until he can be marked off. There is a reason the murders are happening at his sites. Somebody is sending him a message or the rich fuck is bat shit crazy and likes to kill women,” Vander said as he put his head in his hands, thinking.
“Well you know what Sams said at the construction site. He said that Captain Doyle was best friends with Wexford. I mean, why would he get Doyle to call the site, unless he wanted to know what we knew. Plus Sams said that Wexford owned this last sight, too, but the information that I’m getting is that NY Pack Industries is separate from Wexford Industries,” Vander said as if a light bulb went off in his head.
“I thought of that, too, but there are murders in New York also. Something is wrong, but I can’t put my finger on it,” Jewel said and glared at her screen like it had done something wrong. She was getting a bad feeling about this case.
“Before we tell anyone that he is a suspect, we really need to be sure, Jewels. I don’t want to be sued by his high-price lawyers that have nothing better to do than pull us through the mud for slandering their client’s name.” Vander laughed and looked at his partner. “Just fucking with you, I love a good scandal, you know.”
Jewel sat back in her chair, putting her feet on her desk. “Well, you know the old saying. ‘Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.’ So we check him out when we are in New York. I mean, if Doyle is his best friend then maybe we can get some information about him without him understanding why we need the information. Make him out to be a victim in this, too. If he is the killer then he will make a mistake and we will be right on him.”
Jewel and Vander continued to gather information about the victims and their families. They needed to go back and ask the victims’ families if the victims knew Wexford. Jewel put her feet back down and started gathering evidence on Retten Wexford.
She knew someone who could help her collect information on Mr. Wexford. He was an old cop that had retired ten years ago. He was a friend of her parents, the bonus was he was a shifter, too. Benny was an Elder in her Pack, and when her parents were killed, he was there for her. Made sure she had somewhere to call home, watching over her, and protecting her until she was old enough to take care of herself.
Jewel picked up her cell phone, walked into the restroom, and looked under the stalls to see if anybody was in the bathroom before she made the call. Nosey bitches didn’t need to know where she got her information.
Benny Kidore was a private investigator now, and she had used him several times on other cases when she couldn’t come up with any information on her suspects. Benny loved Jewel and Josh as if they were his kids. She knew Benny could be trusted and would keep everything quiet.
Benny answered on the fourth ring. “Well hello, honey. How are you?”
“Hey, Benny. I’m fine. How are you doing?” Jewel asked as she smiled into the phone.
“Fit as a fiddle. So I guess this is a business call with all the murders here and in New York.” Jewel wasn’t even surprised that Benny had already put the murders together both there and in New York.
“Benny…I need your help on this one,” Jewel sighed as she asked.
“All you have to do is ask, Jewel. Who do you want information on this time?” Benny asked Jewel.
“Well, does the name Retten Wexford ring a bell to you?” Jewel asked.
“He is a rich billionaire who owns a shitload of businesses here in Atlanta and New York. He is also the Alpha of the New York wolf pack.” Jewel gasped when she heard the last part. She didn’t know Retten Wexford was a wolf. If he was then most likely Captain Doyle was, too.
“I know you have contacts everywhere, Benny. I know you are saying he is a shifter, too…but I need a background on him and Captain Lex Doyle from the New York Police Department.” Jewel knew that Benny didn’t like doing backgrounds on shifters. She was nervous he would turn her down. “Also, I need to know about the company, NY Pack Industries. I assume it is the Pack’s company and Wexford runs it, I just need to know how far his reach is.” Benny didn’t say anything on the phone, which worried Jewel.
Benny sighed, “I will have your answers by tomorrow at eleven a.m. You know the spot. Love ya.” Jewel said thank you and hung up, knowing it was strange that Benny didn’t talk longer. He must be worried about something.
Chapter Four
Benny was sitting at the bench looking at the elephants. Jewel walked up and sat down beside him. They didn’t speak for a few minutes. Then Benny looked over at Jewel. “You’re not getting much sleep, honey. It will make you old before your time.”
“We are leaving in the morning to go to New York to meet with Captain Doyle and compare notes. I may be gone for a couple of weeks so I won’t be there for poker night with the boys,” Jewel murmured.
“Here is your information. Listen, Wexford is into some kinky shit. He likes to, you know, spank girls and all that M&M shit. I couldn’t even finish the background check, one of my friends did, and they included a picture of Wexford.” Benny smiled.
“What is M&M shit, Benny?” Jewel asked innocently, she loved teasing the old wolf. Even though he was the best information source, he usually just made up terms when he didn’t want to say something.
“You know that shit where, you know, they spank girls and each other and get off on it. I never understood why they did that. Hell, if they grew up like I did, getting a spanking every time you turned around, they wouldn’t want to get a spanking. Hell, I ran from them. These crazy fools run to them.” Jewel burst out laughing.
“Lord, Benny, I needed that laugh. I so miss you. I need to educate you on the new past times of today’s youth. BDSM,” Jewel said as she giggled.
“Honey. I’m an old fogy. I don’t care what they do as long as they don’t try to spank me. Then we will have some problems. Let’s just leave it at M&M, ‘cause that is what I think of it.” Jewel reached over and hugged Benny as he continued. “Listen, Jewel, I know Lex, and he is a good fellow. He is a shifter, too. Just do your job and you will be all right with him.” Benny leaned forward with his elbows on his legs. “NY Pack Industries is a company the New York Pack owns and Retten Wexford is their Alpha. I know you have questions, but, Jewel, you need to read the information first. I think you will understand then.” Jewel knew that Benny was uncomfortable talking about shifters. He didn’t believe in turning in your own kind. Jewel decided to let it drop for now and read the information packet later.
“Let’s go eat lunch. It’s on me,” Jewel said as she picked up the brown folder and walked out of the zoo with Benny.
***
Jewel and Vander had received their plane tickets; she had been informed that Wexford paid for them. A first class ticket—Jewel wasn’t impressed. Vander asked for the aisle seat so he could flirt with the flight attendant when she passed helping passengers board the airplane.
She didn’t care, she needed to look over the information packet Benny had gotten on Wexford. She felt her breath quicken when she saw the picture of Wexford, how is this even fucking possible? For a moment, she thought someone was playing a cruel joke on her. He was good looking, and he should be since he was the perfect reflection of her dead mate. He had black hair with blue eyes that looked like they sparkled, just like Josh. He was six foot three, muscular
, and he had a goatee. She was in shock, how could this have happened, it was as if she wasn’t in reality, she had to be dreaming.
Looking over at her partner, who was engrossed in a conversation with the flight attendant, she wanted to scream and howl with frustration, there is no way this was happening. Vander finally must have felt something and turned to her. He was smiling and rolling his eyes and said, “Jewel, I know you are afraid of flying but…what?” he finished saying and looked at her with concern.
Jewel felt a tingle when she looked at the picture in the file instead of speaking. Her partner looked down and began to swear. “What the FUCK?”
She felt her eyes begin to gather tears as she fought to remain under control. “I don’t know.”
“It has to be a mistake!” Vander protested and grabbed the photo, but she knew every single picture ever taken of her mate, and this was not one of them. The man was dressed in a three-piece suit and looked like he was pampered. Nothing could be further from the truth, Josh was relaxed and down to earth, and he wore jeans and hoodies. This was not him.
“Jewel, breathe, come on, partner, you can do this,” Vander said, gripping her hand. They were taking off, she could feel the sensation of the airplane moving, lifting, making it feel like she was floating for that slight moment.
