Heart Stop

by Radclyffe

  “Aren’t you curious what I mean?”

  “Hey, I know what a honeymoon is. Lots of sex, long moonlit strolls, more sex, candlelight dinners, more sex—”

  “We’re not waiting for moonlight and candles to have sex,” Olivia said.

  “Thank God for that.”

  Olivia laughed. “But we’ll find time for just us. Then you’ve got to finish this fellowship and we’ll have to talk about what comes next.”

  Jay sat up, reached for her T-shirt, and pulled it on. “Not much to talk about. You’ll be the chief medical examiner officially soon, and I don’t plan on going anywhere without you. I’ll find something around here—we’re lucky, plenty of hospitals and medical schools.”

  “For someone of your caliber,” Olivia said, shaking her head, “only a top position is appropriate.” She pursed her lips. “Although, as luck would have it, we’re always looking for competent medical examiners. Should you have an interest, that is.”

  “Oh, I have an interest.” Jay kissed her again and pointed to the phone. “I’m yours. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. Including this morning. Go ahead and make your call.”

  Olivia finally reached Kim after the first call was cut off mid-ring. “Hi, Kim, it’s Olivia.”

  “Sorry,” Kim Osaka said, “the cell reception down here is terrible.”

  “How are things going?” Olivia asked.

  “We’ve processed and transported four out of the six fatalities. We’re working on the last two now.”

  “Has DMORT claimed jurisdiction?”

  “No, that’s the funny thing. They never showed up at all. We’ve just been working the scene like it’s ours.”

  Olivia smiled in victory. “It is ours. I’ll be down—”

  “Are you still in the emergency room?” Kim’s concern showed in his voice.

  “No, I’m fine. I’m just ready to return.”

  “There’s no need for that. We’ll be done here in an hour. I can handle it.”

  “I should probably talk to the authorities, all the same.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Kim said. “They’ve been looking over our shoulders all morning. They’ll find you. If I were you, I’d hide as long as I could.”

  Olivia laughed. Kim Osaka would make an excellent assistant chief, and she intended to recommend that at the first opportunity. “All right then, I’ll meet with you at the office, and we can get started on the posts.”

  “That sounds good to me,” Kim said. “I’ll text you when we leave with the last one.”

  “Thanks, Kim. I appreciate being able to count on you.”

  “That’s okay,” Kim said. “We all appreciate seeing the chief in the field.”

  “I’ll see you all soon.” Olivia handed Jay the phone. “It’ll be at least an hour or two before we have to start the posts.”

  Jay tossed the phone onto the pile of clothes by the bed. “Then I say we put it to good use.”

  “A nap?” Olivia teased.

  Jay pulled Olivia down on top of her. “After.”

  *

  At ten that evening, Olivia and Jay finished the autopsy on the sixth victim. All the fatalities had resulted from the direct blast effect from an incendiary propelled through the front window of the bar. The resulting fire had been contained to the first floor and the adjoining walls between the bar and the adjacent building. Fortunately, the least injured patrons had been able to escape before being overcome by heat and smoke.

  Olivia snapped off her gloves, pulled down her mask, and untied the back of her gown. “This is the first time I’ve seen anything quite like this. Feels a bit like a war zone.”

  “Definitely intentional,” Jay said, carrying a tray of instruments to the sink for the diener to prepare for autoclaving. “Homicide.”

  “Yes.” Olivia shook her head. “No pattern to the victims, other than all male.”

  “This seems so random.”

  “In terms of the victims, yes,” Olivia said. “Unless one of them was a specific target, it appears that the attack was more on the establishment rather than the individuals.”

  “Several of them had the same tattoo,” Jay said.

  “Gang tats.”

  Jay removed her gown and gloves, disposed of them, and opened the door to the antechamber. “Looks that way.”

  “We have a database of those.” Olivia handed Jay her jacket. “We’ll run them for our report, but that’s what it seems.”

  “I’ll get started on those.”

  “Tomorrow is soon enough.” The hall was empty, and Olivia reached for Jay’s hand. “I think we can—” Olivia’s phone rang and, with a sigh, she answered. “Dr. Price.”

  “It’s Kim. I was just leaving and I ran into a couple of police officers who want to talk to you.” He lowered his voice. “I can tell them you’re still in the Graveyard.”

  Olivia closed her eyes for a second. “Thank you, but I’ll see them now. Can you send them to my office.”

  “I’ll give them directions. ’Night.”

  “Good night, Kim. Good work tonight.”

  “Thanks, Chief.”

  Olivia glanced at Jay. “Feel like talking to the police?”

  Jay laughed. “Absolutely. Makes my day.”

  “All right. Then, barring another callout, we’re getting out of here.”

  “We are?”

  “Unless you have other plans?”

  “I seem to have a lot of plans where you’re concerned now.”

  “I’m very glad to hear that. I have a few myself.” Olivia unlocked her office, tugged Jay inside, and kissed her quickly. “The first of which is for you to come home with me.”

  “That could be habit-forming.” Jay sat in the chair she’d occupied the first time she’d met Olivia, when she’d been lost in so many ways. She still couldn’t see all the path ahead, but she was certain of what mattered most. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. I have mentioned that, haven’t I?” Olivia laughed softly. The need she’d once feared, the passion she’d denied, had become part of a future she wanted more than anything in her life.

  “You have, and I can tell you right now, I’m never going to get tired of hearing you say it.”

  “And I can promise you, I never will.” A knock sounded on the door, and Olivia sighed. “Come in.”

  Sandy Sullivan entered with a tall blond woman Olivia recognized from the Galaxy. The blonde, strikingly handsome with ice-blue eyes that held intelligence and authority, held out her hand. “Dr. Price, I’m Detective Lieutenant Rebecca Frye. Thank you for meeting with us. I know it’s been a long day.”

  “That’s all right,” Olivia said, shaking Frye’s hand and nodding to Sandy. “This is Dr. Reynolds, one of our forensic fellows. Please, have a seat.”

  Jay started to rise and Frye waved her down. “We’ll make this quick. I realize you won’t have an official report yet, but preliminaries will be helpful.”

  “I can give you a general overview of what we have,” Olivia said.

  “That would be appreciated.”

  Olivia recapped what she and Jay had found. “I don’t think we have anything you didn’t anticipate at this point.”

  “I’m sure you’re always thorough with your reports,” Frye said with careful deliberation.

  Olivia cocked her head, listening for whatever message was underlying the entire visit. “I assure you, you can rely on our reports. Are you expecting something unusual regarding our testimony?”

  Frye’s eyes glinted with appreciation. “As a matter of fact, I expect you will be preparing for a grand jury hearing, and probably more than one.”

  “You’ve made an arrest?”

  Sandy said, “We picked up a shooter tonight, a gangbanger from MS-13 who probably hoped murdering first responders would win the favor of his gang bosses.”

  “But he’s not your arsonist.”

  “No,” Frye said, “but we have a strong le
ad on him too. Hopefully, we’ll have him in custody soon.”

  Jay leaned forward. “So you’re expecting other arrests in the future.”

  Frye nodded. “We believe we will be targeting some high-profile individuals, yes.”

  “Then I wish you speed and success,” Olivia said. “You can be sure this office will be prepared to present whatever evidence is relevant.”

  “I’m sure of it,” Frye said.

  “You’ll have our reports by midday tomorrow.” Olivia sent her own message. “And I assume you will keep us in the loop.”

  Frye nodded. “Officer Sullivan will be our liaison with your office.”

  Olivia smiled. “Excellent.”

  The officers left, and Olivia glanced at Jay. “Were you able to translate all of that?”

  “They want to be sure we dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s because they’re going after some heavy operators, probably organized crime.”

  *

  “Yes, that would be my impression too.” Olivia came around her desk and held out her hand. “Just another day at the office.”

  Jay stood. “Well, this job is turning out to be a lot more exciting than I ever expected.”

  Olivia laughed and threaded her arm around Jay’s waist. “Just the job?”

  Jay kissed her. “Excitement doesn’t even come close to how the rest of this turned out.”

  Laughing, Olivia rested her cheek against Jay’s shoulder. “Let’s go home.”

  About the Author

  Radclyffe has written over fifty romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters.

  She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance (Distant Shores, Silent Thunder) and erotica (Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen Moments edited with Stacia Seaman and In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip written with Karin Kallmaker). A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA / FF&P Prism Award winner for Secrets in the Stone, an RWA FTHRW Lories and RWA HODRW winner for Firestorm, an RWA Bean Pot winner for Crossroads, an RWA Laurel Wreath winner for Blood Hunt, and the 2016 Book Buyers Best award winner for Price of Honor. In 2014 she was awarded the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Award by the Lambda Literary Foundation. She is a featured author in the 2015 documentary film Love Between the Covers, from Blueberry Hill Productions.

  She is also the president of Bold Strokes Books, one of the world’s largest independent LGBTQ publishing companies.

  Find her at facebook.com/Radclyffe.BSB, follow her on Twitter @RadclyffeBSB, and visit her website at Radfic.com.

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  Canvas for Love by Charlotte Greene. When ghosts from Amelia’s past threaten to undermine their relationship, Chloé must navigate the greatest romance of her life without losing sight of who she is. (978-1-62639-944-0)

  Heart Stop by Radclyffe. Two women, one with a damaged body, the other a damaged spirit, challenge each other to dare to live again. (978-1-62639-899-3)

  Repercussions by Jessica L. Webb. Someone planted information in Edie Black’s brain and now they want it back, but with the protection of shy former soldier Skye Kenny, Edie has a chance at life and love. (978-1-62639-925-9)

  Spark by Catherine Friend. Jamie’s life is turned upside down when her consciousness travels back to 1560 and lands in the body of one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies-in-waiting…or has she totally lost her grip on reality? (978-1-62639-930-3)

  Taking Sides by Kathleen Knowles. When passion and politics collide, can love survive? (978-1-62639-876-4)

  Thorns of the Past by Gun Brooke. Former cop Darcy Flynn’s heart broke when her career on the force ended in disgrace, but perhaps saving Sabrina Hawk’s life will mend it in more ways than one. (978-1-62639-857-3)

  You Make Me Tremble by Karis Walsh. Seismologist Casey Radnor comes to the San Juan Islands to study an earthquake but finds her heart shaken by passion when she meets animal rescuer Iris Mallery. (978-1-62639-901-3)

  Complications by MJ Williamz. Two women battle for the heart of one. (978-1-62639-769-9)

  Crossing the Wide Forever by Missouri Vaun. As Cody Walsh and Lillie Ellis face the perils of the untamed West, they discover that love’s uncharted frontier isn’t for the weak in spirit or the faint of heart. (978-1-62639-851-1)

  Fake It till You Make It by M. Ullrich. Lies will lead to trouble, but can they lead to love? (978-1-62639-923-5)

  Girls Next Door, edited by Sandy Lowe and Stacia Seaman. Best-selling romance authors tell it from the heart—sexy, romantic stories of falling for the girls next door. (978-1-62639-916-7)

  Pursuit by Jackie D. The pursuit of the most dangerous terrorist in America will crack the lines of friendship and love, and not everyone will make it out from under the weight of duty and service. (978-1-62639-903-7)

  The Practitioner by Ronica Black. Sometimes love comes calling whether you’re ready for it or not. (978-1-62639-948-8)

  Unlikely Match by Fiona Riley. When an ambitious PR exec and her super-rich coding geek-girl client fall in love, they learn that giving something up may be the only way to have everything. (978-1-62639-891-7)

  Where Love Leads by Erin McKenzie. A high school counselor and the mom of her new student bond in support of the troubled girl, never expecting deeper feelings to emerge, testing the boundaries of their relationship. (978-1-62639-991-4)

  Forsaken Trust by Meredith Doench. When four women are murdered, Agent Luce Hansen must regain trust in her most valuable investigative tool—herself—to catch the killer. (978-1-62639-737-8)

  Letter of the Law by Carsen Taite. Will federal prosecutor Bianca Cruz take a chance at love with horse breeder Jade Vargas, whose dark family ties threaten everything Bianca has worked to protect—including her child? (978-1-62639-750-7)

  New Life by Jan Gayle. Trigena and Karrie are having a baby, but the stress of becoming a mother and the impact on their relationship might be too much for Trigena. (978-1-62639-878-8)

  Royal Rebel by Jenny Frame. Charity director Lennox King sees through the party-girl image Princess Roza has cultivated, but will Lennox’s past indiscretions and Roza’s responsibilities make their love impossible? (978-1-62639-893-1)

  Unbroken by Donna K. Ford. When Kayla and Jackie, two women with every reason to reject Happily Ever After, fall in love, will they have the courage to overcome their pasts and rewrite their stories? (978-1-62639-921-1)

  Where the Light Glows by Dena Blake. Mel Thomas doesn’t realize just how unhappy she is in her marriage until she meets Izzy Calabrese. Will she have the courage to overcome her insecurities and follow her heart? (978-1-62639-958-7)

  Her Best Friend’s Sister by Meghan O’Brien. For fifteen years, Claire Barker has nursed a massive crush on her best friend’s older sister. What happens when all her wildest fantasies come true? (978-1-62639-861-0)

  Escape in Time by Robyn Nyx. Working in the past is hell on your future. (978-1-62639-855-9)

  Forget-Me-Not by Kris Bryant. Is love worth walking away from the only life you’ve ever dreamed of? (978-1-62639-865-8)

  Highland Fling by Anna Larner. On vacation in the Scottish Highlands, Eve Eddison falls for the enigmatic forestry officer Moira Burns despite Eve’s best friend’s campaign to convince her that Moira will break her heart. (978-1-62639-853-5)

  Phoenix Rising by Rebecca Harwell. As Storm’s Quarry faces invasion from a powerful neighbor, a mysterious newcomer with powers equal to Nadya’s challenges everything she believes about herself and her future. (978-1-62639-913-6)

  Soul Survivor by I. Beacham. Sam and Joey have given up on hope, but when fate brings them together it gives them a chance to change each other’s life and make dreams come true. (978-1-62639-882-5)

  Strawberry Summer by Melissa Brayden. When Margaret Beringer’s first love Courtney Carrington returns to their small town, she must
grapple with their troubled past and fight the temptation for a very delicious future. (978-1-62639-867-2)

  The Girl on the Edge of Summer by J.M. Redmann. Micky Knight accepts two cases, but neither is the easy investigation it appears. The past is never past—and young girls lead complicated, even dangerous lives. (978-1-62639-687-6)

  Unknown Horizons by CJ Birch. The moment Lieutenant Alison Ash steps aboard the Persephone, she knows her life will never be the same. (978-1-62639-938-9)

  The Sniper’s Kiss by Justine Saracen. The power of a kiss: it can swell your heart with splendor, declare abject submission, and sometimes blow your brains out. (978-1-62639-839-9)

  Divided Nation, United Hearts by Yolanda Wallace. In a nation torn in two by a most uncivil war, can love conquer the divide? (978-1-62639-847-4)

  Fury’s Bridge by Brey Willows. What if your life depended on someone who didn’t believe in your existence? (978-1-62639-841-2)

  Lightning Strikes by Cass Sellars. When Parker Duncan and Sydney Hyatt’s one-night stand turns to more, both women must fight demons past and present to cling to the relationship neither of them thought she wanted. (978-1-62639-956-3)

  Love in Disaster by Charlotte Greene. A professor and a celebrity chef are drawn together by chance, but can their attraction survive a natural disaster? (978-1-62639-885-6)

  Secret Hearts by Radclyffe. Can two women from different worlds find common ground while fighting their secret desires? (978-1-62639-932-7)

  Sins of Our Fathers by A. Rose Mathieu. Solving gruesome murder cases is only one of Elizabeth Campbell’s challenges; another is her growing attraction to the female detective who is hell-bent on keeping her client in prison. (978-1-62639-873-3)