Oh, how she wanted to crawl out of her hiding spot, but fright kept her steady, even though her feet were falling asleep and her back muscles cramped. She was afraid to trust her senses even if they were acute.
Sucking in a deep breath, she tried to calm her nerves. Her mind skipped back to that dark night when she was a passenger in Kora’s sports car and they were coming back from a day of shopping for Ria’s wedding gown, chatting away about the prospect of her wedding day coming up when they hit a slick, icy spot and Kora lost control of the car. The rest was a blank to Ria until she woke up in the hospital with blurred vision. Her world had turned upside down. Never had she thought she could overcome such a tragedy or the hurdles of going blind, but she had, and she would overcome this too.
Sitting there any longer would be a waste of valuable time. The intruders would have more of a head start in getting away and that’s the last thing she wanted. Or they could decide to come back.
Slowly, she dragged herself from the shelf, sending towels and sheets out along with her. She could barely move until the blood started flowing to her extremities. Finally, she managed to lift herself to her feet, unsteadily at first, but she was standing.
Carefully making her way to the doorway, she stuck her head out and listened. Nothing but the whirring noise of the refrigerator. Turning back to her desk, she reached for her phone, but it wasn’t in the cradle. The killer had knocked it to the floor with the rest of the things. Thankfully, she kept her cane hidden under the desk while at home. If he’d found it, he would have known she was still in the house. Without a doubt he wouldn’t have left until he took care of her.
Without a phone, how would she call the police?
Then she remembered. She had Delta.
Clicking her computer on, she said, “Delta, dial 911. Emergency.” The program would send an alert to the Sheriff’s office. They wouldn’t know the emergency, but they would have her address.
What would she do while she waited?
What if Mason or Leandra were still alive?
The killers said they were dead, yet what if they were mistaken?
She took a step and her foot slid on something. Bending, she swiped her hand across the floor. Orange peels. The man had been eating an orange and that was why she’d smelled the citrus scent.
Standing, and with courage she never knew she had, Ria methodically made her way into the living room, using all her senses as she went along, stopping when an iron-rich scent assailed her nostrils. Blood. Her stomach turned and her body threatened to give out, but she forced her feet to take one step, then another, her focus on helping her friend and Mason.
Inhaling a deep breath, she took two more steps and her feet slid in a sticky puddle sending both her legs in opposite directions. Off balance, she waved her arms frantically, but there was no saving her from falling. She came down hard to land on Mason’s still, lifeless body.
Splintering wood assaulted her ears and she screamed as a pair of hands grabbed her wrists, pulling her up…
“No! Leave me alone!” She flung her hands, striking cheeks and a jaw.
“Calm down, ma’am. I’m responding to an emergency call you made. You’re safe now.”
CHAPTER 4
“SHERIFF CADE, WE have two bodies and one witness. She’s shaken up pretty bad, but she’s unharmed.”
Phoenix absorbed Deputy Gelder’s words as he stepped up onto the porch where the first victim lay in a puddle of blood. “Have you identified her?”
“Name is Leandra Watson. Twenty-eight. From what we know so far, she worked here as an assistant. She was running late and came up on the intruders.”
“What do we have inside?”
“Another body. And the witness. Deputy Holloway is sitting with her.”
“The witness. Who is it?”
“The owner of the house and business. She said her name is Ria Portman. Like I said, she’s shaken up, but she gave us a lot of information. The other victim is one of her clients, Mason Cox. Recognize the name?”
“Sure do. Served some time in prison for burglary a few years back.” He bent to his knees, examining the bullet wound to the woman’s head. Standing, Phoenix walked a wide circle around her body, then swiped his feet on the welcome mat and stepped into the entryway, giving the splintered door with several bullet holes an inspection. “Although I don’t think we’ll find anything, check for fingerprints. See where the bullets landed then send them to forensics.”
“Yes, sir,” Deputy Gelder said.
“Whoever did this had been desperate.” Desperation could only be a word to describe someone who would go to so much trouble to break into a house in the middle of town at dusk. “What’s his cause of death? Gunshot too?” Phoenix pointed to Cox’s body.
“Two bullets to the head. Miss Portman said the killers were after him. They were looking for something.”
Although it was obvious by the scene what had happened there today, he’d have to await the medical examiner’s final cause of death. Any sudden or violent deaths were sent through Hancock. The man was damn good at his job and Phoenix relied on him many times in helping solve cases.
Stepping around the body, he stopped when he heard a familiar soft voice. His heart skipped a beat and his body tightened. He rounded the corner and looked into the sitting area. On the couch sat a blonde woman with her head lowered and her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her hair covered her profile, but he knew her. Not only knew her, but he’d danced with her and then had dreams of her every night since. Maria. Hell, the night had been one screwed up shit case from him telling her about the wager to her vomiting on his shoes. It wasn’t the best reaction he’d ever gotten from a woman he was about to kiss, but she’d been humiliated and didn’t wait around for him to get her number. He didn’t know if he’d see her again, but in the middle of a homicide scene was not what he’d expected.
Deputy Holloway stood up from where she’d been sitting next to Maria and greeted Phoenix, offering him a weak smile.
“Give me a moment. Okay, Deputy?” he asked.
She nodded and left them alone.
Maria lifted her chin, looking past him.
“Hi, Maria.”
Several expressions flitted across her face. “Phoenix?” Her eyes were red-rimmed and the streak of blood on her cheek was a harsh contrast against the pale backdrop of her smooth skin. Her blue work scrubs and tennis shoes were covered in blood which explained the footprints around Cox’s body. She’d fallen over him. Phoenix’s chest tightened as he pondered how scared she must have been when the killers were in the house.
Instead of taking the cushion next to her, he sat down on the coffee table across from her so that he could face her as he spoke. “I’ll be the one investigating what happened here today, Miss Portman.”
“I’m surprised you’re here. No, not really. Of course you’d be here. Shall I call you Sheriff Cade?”
“I’m a little confused too. Do you prefer Maria or Ria? Or does it depend on the circumstance?” He leaned his elbows on his knees.
“Maria is my name, but everyone calls me Ria for short. I didn’t lie. Yet, you did, Sheriff.” She drew her words out sarcastically.
“I omitted what I do for a living, but I didn’t lie,” he added.
Her bottom lip trembled. “There were two killers. They broke in. They murdered Mason.”
“Slow down and let’s take things one at a time. Don’t leave out any information.” It was imperative that he put the events of that night he danced with her out of his mind and concentrated on the homicide. She could be very valuable in helping him solve this case and he needed her to trust him. He had to stay clear headed, and not think about how soft she’d been in his arms. How good she smelled or how he’d almost gotten the chance to kiss her.
“I…I will, but first, please tell me…is my assistant…?” Her voice trailed off as if the words were too difficult to speak.
“I’m sorry. She’s gone. I know thi
s might be difficult, but while everything is clear in your head, tell me everything. Every detail matters, whether big or small, and will help us find the bastards who did this.”
“They seemed very proficient, like they’d done this a few times before. They talked about Leandra and that she came at the worst time. She had no clue they were here, but they’d used her to try to get Mason to open the door. I-I didn’t know what to do, how to help her…”
Tears slid down her cheeks and his heart hitched. Steel wall, Cade.
~~~**~~~
Ria told Phoenix everything she could about the killers. From the smell of leather, cigars, and oranges, to the sound of their footsteps, their accents, and the one being called Snake. The more she spoke, the less any of the crime made sense, but she felt better getting all the information out.
“And you’re sure about the smell of expensive cigars? And they were working for a man they called “boss’?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“They had no clue you were hiding in the cabinet under the table?”
“If they had found me, I would be dead.”
“They don’t know there’s a witness yet. That means you could be safe,” he said in a low, twisted voice and shifted his legs, their knees brushing. She jerked in response.
“Might be safe as in there’s a chance I’m not?”
“They were looking for something Cox supposedly brought with him and you don’t remember if they said what it was?” There was a new gruffness in the tone of his voice. Had he noticed her discomfort from his touch?
After absorbing his question, she gave her head a quick shake. “No, that’s not what I said, Sheriff. They didn’t mention what it was Mason had brought. The killers thought he had it with him and I heard Mason say that if they killed him they’d never find it.”
“Do you have reason to believe Cox and your assistant were together in something illegal? You did say they used her to try and convince Cox to open the door and she used his first name.”
“No. I don’t think so... Leandra was murdered because she came at the wrong time, which I take blame for.”
“How are you at fault?”
Tears stung her eyes. “I had called her and asked why she was late. Maybe if I hadn’t—” She gasped when she felt his hand on her arm. His touch was warm, sending tingles of awareness up into her shoulder and nestling in her chest. She could feel his callused fingers and when her stomach twisted, she pulled away. Never had she felt anything quite like it, and especially from a man who she only knew from a couple of dances.
He cleared his throat and when he shifted the wood of the table creaked. “This isn’t your fault, Ria. None of it is. You had no idea these bastards would show up or that any of this would happen. There’s a possibility your assistant saved your life by not asking you to open the door. She could have pleaded to you, but she didn’t. I have a feeling she knew Cox wouldn’t open. You said they knew you were blind?”
“The man, Snake, knew.”
“Can you think of anything else?”
“I mentioned his gait, right? That he walked with a limp. Maybe he has an old wound?”
“It’s a possibility.”
“It’s not much to go on, is it? Not when I didn’t see their faces.”
“You’ve given me useful information, Ria. It’ll help narrow down the search.”
The hairs on her nape erected. “You have to catch them, Phoenix. They must pay for what they did. Leandra was young, had a long life ahead of her.”
“Mark my word, we will find them. Mason Cox was your client. Is that how you two met? Did you know anything about his personal life? Had he ever said anything that set your instincts on alert?”
Trying to calm her mind down so she could keep track of his questions, she clasped her hands tighter in her lap. “I met Mason when he came here as a client and then later I hired him to do some computer work for me. During a session, he mentioned that he worked on computers and installed programs to help people with special needs. He sold me on a program called Delta and it helped me immensely.”
“Computer work? He put this program, Delta, on your computer?”
“Yes. It’s a service program that makes my life a little easier. He only installed it on my work computer, not my personal laptop.”
“We will have to take the computer and hand it over to forensics so they can take a look.”
“Sure. I understand.”
“Do you have some place to go? Your sister’s house maybe?”
Ria didn’t want to leave her home, but on the other hand, right now she didn’t feel safe being there…and knowing it was a crime scene. And then it came to her…what about her other clients? She’d have to cancel their appointments. Leandra always handled those duties. Suddenly, the tears were back and she swiped at her cheeks, refusing to break down. “Kora is in Paris. I can stay with my friend Phyllis, at least for tonight.”
There was a long hesitation and then he said, “I’ll ask Deputy Holloway to take you there. I can have her help you pack a bag. You might need some help.”
She tilted her chin. “I’m quite capable of packing my own bag. I’m blind, not inept.” The words came out bound by her turmoil of emotions.
“I wasn’t insinuating that you were, but this is an official crime scene and the less you touch the better. We will be attempting to lift fingerprints and looking for evidence. It’ll take some time because from what it looks like, they ransacked your place.”
“I’m sorry. Sure, I understand. I’m just…”
“Tired. Upset. Angry. Understandably so. If you’re not comfortable with Holloway helping—”
“No, I’m comfortable. But you won’t find fingerprints.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because they were both wearing gloves. Leather. I could smell them and hear the soft crunching. But I don’t know if h was wearing them while he was peeling an orange.”
“Yes. I could smell the scent of citrus then I felt the peel on the floor in my studio.”
“Trust me, we’ll get this worked out.”
From her standpoint, she didn’t have many other options but to trust him, and his deputies. She stood. “If it’s okay, I’d like to do this quickly and get out of here.”
“Sure.” She heard him stand too. He called over Deputy Holloway and explained what he wanted her to do.
Ria started to step away, but Phoenix’s hand on her wrist stopped her. “Yes?”
“If you remember anything, give me a call. Deputy Holloway will get your number in case I need to reach you. You’ll hear from me soon, no doubt.”
CHAPTER 5
PHOENIX SCRUBBED HIS palm over his chin. “From what I have gathered so far, someone had hired the killers, a man they call “boss”. The same person who knew enough about Ria Portman that he could pass on the information to the intruders with specific instructions. She was lucky, if there is any luck to have in this horrible situation, because these men are ruthless and without compassion, obviously.” Phoenix dropped the local newspaper onto his desk and rubbed the bridge of his nose. The headline read, “Sole survivor in double murder.” His heart slammed against his ribs. “Leave it to the media. Once the killers get wind that they’d screwed up, they won’t stop until they finish what they started.”
“It was only a matter of time before they leaked the information. Well, what are you going to do?”
Phoenix looked across his cluttered desk at Deputy Connor Gelder. He was focused and made one hell of a detective. After Phoenix hired him, they’d become instant friends and he could rely on the man to get the job done. “I’m going to take Miss Portman to the Cade cabin. She’ll be safe there. It’s not even on a GPS.”
Connor blinked. “You’re taking a witness to your family’s cabin deep in the woods?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Gelder. My job is to keep her safe and that’s all this is.”
“Oh, and what about solving the case?”
he chuckled.
“That’s a given.” He sat back into his chair and stretched his legs.
“Look, I get it. I do. Here in Abbie you won’t find many places to hide a valuable witness, but this wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you find her attractive, would it?”
“How do you know that?”
Connor laughed. “I didn’t, but I do now.”
How had Phoenix walked straight into that trap? He was usually on his game and one step ahead of everyone, but lately he’d been off kilter. “No. Can we get back to the case?”
“Okay,” Connor said while nodding.
Reaching into the top drawer of his desk, Phoenix withdrew a folder and dropped it in front of the other man. “Take a look.”
He withdrew the contents and skimmed the document. “What’s this?”
“A list of names. Recognize any of them?”
“A few. Some are political figures. A couple of cops in the next county over. Some I have no clue. Are they clients at the massage studio?”
“No. I had our tech look at Ria’s computer. Cox had installed a service program to help her access her files easier. What was found is surprising, or maybe not at all. He had this list hidden on her desktop. He created a file disguised as a utility folder, the recycle bin. It took our tech minutes to find it, but she’s a techno wiz. Ria, well, she would have never found the file. Anyone else on the outside looking at the computer screen wouldn’t have seen anything out of the ordinary.”
“Clever. So, what about the assistant? She managed all the administrative duties.”
“True. She would have had to click on the icon and the system folder would have opened. Cox was a scam artist and intelligent. A talent like this worked for him in being a con artist.”
“He wanted to hide the file there? For safe keeping? In case a hard copy was lost or grabbed? Yet, it’s just a list, far from being discriminatory.”
“Right, and I feel this is only part of what the killers were looking for.” He propped his elbows on the desk. “It seems logical that Cox would scatter the incriminating information for safekeeping. If he was blackmailing someone on that list,” Phoenix stabbed the folder with his finger, “I could see one of them hiring Snake and his partner to eliminate the risk. They searched Ria’s office, but unless they were computer savvy, they wouldn’t have found the file. They were looking for a hard copy, but the question is, what exactly was the implicating evidence that was worth killing for?”
Protected by the Lawman Page 5
