Catherine sank down in the chair and studied her feet. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Running’s a reasonable reaction. But the idea of packing up and leaving, it rolled off your tongue with no effort. I think the thought has crossed your mind before. To be honest, it surprises me.”
“That’s me, okay? I’m full of surprises.” Her joke fell flat. She raised her head and met his gaze. Disappointment, blended with pain, darkened his eyes. Did the thought of losing her hurt? A flutter shot through her heart. She couldn’t allow herself to care too much. Moving on wasn’t a topic she wanted to consider, but it remained a viable option. “There’s not much chance of catching this jerk. Is there?”
“Doesn’t mean I won’t try. You can help. I need you to think. Anything unusual happen lately? Anyone make you uncomfortable?”
She thought back over the past few days. Took him through her movements and told him about seeing JC. Not a glimmer of a smile crossed his face. “Steve’s not mad at me. I don’t think. And JC’s worried because you believe he’s capable of killing someone.”
“We’re all capable. Some of us control our urges. Others are criminals.”
Her heart imploded. She shouldn’t have been surprised by his comment. His strong belief in the law made him who he was.
“Other than Vince, anyone paying extra attention to you?”
“Just you.” She went back to studying her feet.
“I’ll send the box and picture to the lab. What was the third gift?”
“A pink diary and a picture of a man’s torso. The picture was signed, ‘Think of me.’”
“You should’ve called. When did you get the damn thing?”
“The day you hunted Julia until late. You were tired. I couldn’t disturb you.”
“You should’ve called,” he repeated, moving to stand beside her, his hand gripped her shoulder. “Look at me. You have to be extra careful.”
“I am. Every minute of the day. Maybe I need to sleep with the lights on. I’ll step up my exercise, concentrate on my self-defense moves. Come to think of it, I’ll stop on the way home and pick up some cheap weights. The cans of corn I’m using aren’t heavy enough.” She clamped her jaw shut to stop her babbling.
Matt slid his hand under her hair and massaged her neck. His fingers found a knot and bore down. “There’s one other thing you could do.”
“Hmm.” Her head lolled forward. Please God, don’t let him bring up a gun. Not again. “What’s that?”
“You could stay at my place.”
“What?” She whipped her head around. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m not?” He continued to apply pressure. His fingers dug deeper until the tension eased.
“I can’t.” Her nerves did that melting action again when he smiled. She fought to keep from stammering. “Besides, how would that make me safer?”
“Only a limited number of people would know you were there. Plus, there’s the bonus of me being around occasionally.”
“Thank you for asking, but I can’t.”
****
Matt opened the door and asked Susan for a paper sack while he considered what he’d done. Had he asked Catherine to move in with him? What if she’d said yes? His libido was doing his thinking for him. She’d been in his thoughts constantly since Monday night. Her raw passion and wide-eyed excitement at rediscovering her own sexuality had dominated his mind. But to ask her to move in?
“Then let me have your air conditioner fixed. At least you could keep your windows rolled up.”
“We’ve talked about this. He’s not going to stop because my windows are up. Is he?”
He wouldn’t lie to her. “No. I don’t think so. You should fill out a complaint. All these unwanted gifts should be on record.”
“You know about them and that’s enough.”
Matt bagged the latest gift and kissed his stubborn woman goodbye. Her refusal to file a complaint or walk inside a courthouse bugged the crap out of him.
The idea of googling Catherine sounded better all the time. Her lack of trust hurt like hell.
Chapter Fourteen
Thursday, August 24th, 3:00 p.m.
Matt recognized the sleek, convertible sports car parked in the reserved slot. Disappointment and relief warred for position. He’d missed Ash’s arrival, but Matt’s questions for ex-con Mel Hamilton took precedence.
“When’d Ash get here?” Matt asked while Jake descended the steps of the courthouse.
“Over an hour ago.” Jake’s normally stoic face wore the grin of a kid at a surprise party. “I damn near missed him.”
“Was it sweet?”
“Nothing like you expected. He must’ve figured something was up, because he never missed a step. Grabbed Sue up and hugged her like they were long lost relatives.”
“Should’ve known. It’s hard to run a game on him.”
“He’s set up in the conference room off your office with all the evidence. He wanted to get started. What’d you think about Hamilton?”
“I don’t make him for causing trouble. Period. Mel’s trying hard to please his new bride. Why else would he agree to live and work on her daddy’s ranch?”
“Did you meet her?” Jake’s grin took on a salacious cast.
“I did. Ash’s been here an hour, and he’s already turned you into a dirty old man.”
“That woman’s reason enough to stay out of trouble.” Jake glanced over his shoulder as if afraid someone overheard.
“Where are you headed?” Matt took pity on him and didn’t threaten to tell Jake’s wife.
“Will Brooking’s place. I hear he’s taken a leave from work. Gonna put together his own search party. Says if we can’t find Annie, he will. He needs reminding to stay on the right side of the law.” Jake pulled the door to his cruiser open, paused, and turned back. “Unless you’ve got something else in mind.”
“You’re the Deputy Sheriff. Don’t need my approval.” Matt waved him off. “Keep me informed.” He ran up the steps two at a time. Ash would have questions.
Sue looked up from her computer and smiled. Sitting on the edge of her desk was a box of chocolates. “You failed to mention Ash is real considerate.” She raised the lid and popped a piece of candy in her mouth.
“He’s real thoughtful, all right.” Matt shook his head while Sue’s cheeks turned pink. He handed her the bag containing the panties and picture with instructions. He pushed open the conference room door to find Ash studying the crime scene photos. A frown pulled his eyebrows together. He showed no recognition the door had opened. Damn, Matt had missed his old partner. They worked well together, picking up on things the other missed.
“He’s a sick bastard.” Ash’s gaze didn’t move from the pictures. He’d commit the scene to memory, file facts away for later retrieval.
“That, he is. Good to see you made yourself at home.” Matt slapped Ash across the back and welcomed the tight grasp of his hand.
“Speaking of home, I’m stealing Sue when she gets a minute. I’ll follow her to my new pad, give me a chance to unpack and get ready for my new job.” All business, Ash leaned back and flipped the murder-book open. “You’ve done a good job with the notes. Won’t take much to get up to speed. I may want to double back on some of your interviews.”
“Let me know. If I can’t take you, one of the deputies will. You met Jake, he and Rey Santos have worked both cases since day one. Sue combined their notes with mine. What you read is up to date.”
“Did these two women have anything in common?” Ash shifted in his chair and returned his gaze to Julia Drummond’s and Annie Travers’s faces.
“One. They both went to the same bar. Julia was a frequent visitor. Being single, she stopped by with one of her girlfriends. Annie went rarely. When she did she was always with her husband. The Saddleback’s the only club of any size for miles. Two of our neighboring counties are dry. This nightspot does big business on the weekends. Have you had a chance to watch th
e security video from the bank drive-thru window?”
“Not yet. I wanted to read your notes on the first woman before I started on the second. How long’s she been missing?”
“Eight days.” Matt didn’t have to check. Each hour and minute they’d looked for Annie was forever etched in his mind.
“At this point you don’t know if that’s a good sign or not. What about the first woman? How long before her body was found?”
“Four days. ME estimated she’d been dead twenty-four hours.”
“Interesting, these types of crimes usually escalate...” Ash’s voice trailed off to a whisper as his mind processed information. “Unless she was taken as a sex slave.”
“Then why’d he kill her?”
“Maybe it was part of his game, choked her and she didn’t come back. Could’ve been an accident.”
“Murder’s no accident.”
“There’s a thread that connects these women. We’ll find it.” Ash’s gaze locked on Matt. “You gotta pull back man, stay objective.”
“Easy to say.”
“But critical to do.” Ash finished the long-standing mantra he and Matt had coined years ago.
Matt looked his friend in the eyes. “Did I say welcome? I’m glad you’re here.”
“Good. Now walk me through the video.”
Matt started the film and hoped Ash would pick up on something Matt missed. “Other than she recognized him, I got nothing. You see anything?” Matt sat back in disgust when the short few minutes of tape ended.
“She not only knew him, she trusted him. Trusted he was only taking the money.” Ash pushed the start button, watched the feed again. “I can’t read her lips. The shot is from an angle, and I can’t make out the words. You look into her finances?”
“They weren’t too deep in debt. Their house was a rental. Neither car was new and only a couple grand was owed against them. The credit check came back clean with one charge card. Hell, they’d been saving money to have a kid. I don’t think the guy on camera is her husband.”
“You can’t see anything but a shoulder and a hand holding the gun. Hell, it could’ve been me, and you wouldn’t know it. I want to talk to the husband.”
Matt acknowledged his friend’s request with a nod. “That’s what you’re here for.”
Ash closed the book and straightened the paperwork on the conference table. He used to get pissed if someone on the night shift trashed his desk. Matt would rearrange stuff to hear Ash raise hell. Elena, Matt’s partner after he moved to the narcotics squad, had been the opposite. Her work area looked like a bomb had exploded. She used to joke how her husband had to help keep up with the kids. The same kids who were now growing up without a mother.
Ash stood and studied his handiwork. “That’s better. I officially start in the morning. I wanted to get a feel for what we’re up against. Gives me something to think about tonight. I’m having dinner with my new girl and a lady friend of hers. Want to make it a foursome?” Ash tilted his head sideways and waited for a response.
“I’ve got work to do. Go. Have a good time.” Matt made no effort to keep the smile off his face. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He walked Ash back to Sue’s desk and left his gruff, abrasive dispatcher almost purring.
Matt returned to the conference room, replaying the past few days. It nagged at him that Will Brooking and some of his buddies were storming through the county searching for Annie. He wasn’t opposed to help, but Will was a hothead. A hothead with a missing daughter.
****
Thursday, August 24th, 10:00 p.m.
He prided himself on staying sober. He’d been pissed and obviously had one beer too many. Too many, unless somebody had painted two extra stripes on the road running out to Mama’s trailer. The drive seemed to take forever. But he’d made a decision, and by God, he didn’t back down from the tough ones. He’d do it and put the whole damn thing behind him.
Dying was her own damn fault. Hadn’t he been good to her? All that got him was a trashed bathroom. She wanted to wear clothes. She wanted more food. And over and over again, she wanted to go home. Goddamn her, she wanted everything but him.
Mama never tolerated backtalk and crying. She’d whip him until the red streaks were welts. But after...after, she’d hold him in her arms and rock him. Her breasts were soft and sweet. Sometimes she’d let him—no, he wouldn’t remember those times.
His head ached, and his heart hurt. Why hadn’t she loved him? Why? Worst of all...why did he care?
His tires grabbed and slung gravel against the undercarriage. “What the hell?” His pickup swerved off the road for a second. He cranked the AC up on high, pointed the vents toward his face, and breathed deeply. His mind had cleared by the time he pulled into the driveway.
He might be ready for a new doll. First, he’d let this doll shower and get pretty for him. A ponytail, some makeup, a layer of Mama’s red lipstick, and she’d pull him out of this melancholy shit-ditch he was in. He’d tie the bow around her neck himself. For a while, she’d be the doll she was meant to be. One last time. Then he’d end her whining for good.
****
Friday, August 25th, 8:30 a.m.
Matt held the door open for Ash, walking past him when he stopped and breathed in the aroma. Mornings at the old-fashioned drugstore smelled of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and maple syrup. Lately, it had turned into an unofficial meeting place to discuss the case. He and his detectives were in a mad dash to find Annie before she was killed and a bow was tied around her neck. Who knew where the bastard would leave her for all the world to see?
Matt led Ash toward the sound of clattering dishes, through the aisles and back to the small café tucked away in the rear. Business was brisk for such a small town. The older male population filled the stools at the counter. The heat had driven them indoors and away from their usual spot on the benches in front of the courthouse. Matt made the obligatory stops to shake hands and answer a few questions. Most were directed at Ash when introduced as the homicide expert from Houston.
While there, Matt planned to ask if anyone remembered JC being around yesterday morning. Matt wanted to know exactly what had been purchased. He’d spent the past hour going over Catherine’s stalker and the gifts she’d received. They grabbed the last empty booth. Molly brought brown over-sized mugs filled with steaming coffee without waiting to be asked.
“You boys look hungry this morning.” She stood closer to Ash’s side of the table, smiled down on him as if the drought had broken, and it was pouring rain.
“I’ll take the special, scrambled.” Ash turned his full attention to Molly.
“I’m not hungry.” Matt choked on his coffee as the scenario unfolded. How Ash captured the woman’s heart with nothing more than an appreciative look was unbelievable. She swished her hips at a dizzying speed as she walked away. “You’re such a whore-dog. Don’t you ever get enough?”
“There’s no such thing. And you’ve been holding out on me.” Ash shot a smile in the direction of the now smitten Molly.
“Holding out? Molly’s a pretty girl, but there’s nothing going on.” There could’ve been. She’d batted her pretty blue eyes at Matt more than once, but there wasn’t a spark.
“She’s not the one I’m talking about. You get a funny look when you talk about this Catherine woman. I need to know more.”
Matt squirmed in the booth. Ash’s mind was like the jaws of a pit bull, when he locked down on something he didn’t turn loose.
“She’s a friend.” Matt ignored Ash when he huffed a sound between disgust and disbelief. “And I needed one over the past month or so.”
“And...”
“She’s damn near perfect.” Matt smiled. Fact was she had no flaws on her body.
“So what’s not perfect about this mysterious woman?”
“For one thing, she’s got a stalker, and yet, refuses to file a complaint. Refuses to walk inside the courthouse or my office.”
“Why’
s that?” Ash leaned forward, his interest piqued.
“Don’t know. I haven’t pushed the issue.”
“When do I get to meet her?”
“Good question. She works two jobs.”
“A woman who pays her own bills. I like her already.”
“Sure is tempting to dig around in her past. Maybe learn how I can help.”
“You could ‘help’ yourself right out her front door. How pissed you think she’s gonna be if she finds out you ‘dug around’?”
“I said tempting.”
“Listen to an expert. Leave it alone.”
Matt bit back a wisecrack but only because breakfast was served.
Ash leaned over the plate Molly put in front of him and stuffed a bite of eggs in his face. “Molly, darling. I think I’m in love.”
She leaned down closer to his ear. “I get off at three.”
The man was truly an artist with the ladies. Matt bit off a piece of toast and sat the rest down when his cell vibrated.
“What’s up, Rey?” Matt forced himself to swallow. He closed his eyes and listened to the gruesome facts. Annie Travers had been found. “Be there in twenty.”
Ash was already on his feet. He tossed money on the table. “Got a body?”
“Yeah. Annie Travers is in Downey Park. Sonofabitch left her right next to Curry Middle School.” Matt rushed through the store, and he and Ash jumped into the cruiser. “I didn’t ask for details, but if she’s posed like the last one—” Matt had a hard time saying the words out loud. “If she is, we’ve got a serial killer on our hands.”
Matt radioed Sue to ensure she’d notified Jake and Dr. Reinhardt. Matt had to get a positive ID and secure the crime scene for the forensic team. He feared the children on the way to school might’ve seen Annie because the buses had driven right past the park. Damn, Annie’s husband taught at the school two blocks away. Why did Crest County start school in the middle of August instead of early September? He called Sue back.
“Ben Travers teaches at that school. Get a hold of the principal before Ben hears a body’s been found. We have to keep him away from the site.” Matt pushed his speed. Siren blaring, he cut the twenty minutes to ten. Annie’s mother and father would have to be told, but for now Annie came first. Matt called in three additional deputies to work crowd control. Curry might be a small town but people would congregate quickly.
The Green-Eyed Doll Page 15
