He grinned, knowing it made Justin uncomfortable when they talked sex. “I’m a slow learner.”
“Christ! Come on!”
She handed him his coffee and leaned against Julian. “Oh stop. You look all cheery, so your brother isn’t the only one that was rolling around naked last night.”
“Yeah, I know,” he stated, grinning. “This sleeping with one woman thing is pretty awesome. It’s like having a yard with an apple tree. All the fruit you can eat.”
Tori punched him next. “Really?”
Julian snickered. “Okay, I’m going to give you your assignment to save both of our lives. Tori may take us both out today.”
“Yeah, good idea,” she stated.
Before he could, the office phone rang. Lena was off today, so Julian answered it.
“Littlemoon Investigations.”
“Is this Julian Littlemoon?” the voice said.
“Yes, how may I help you?” he asked.
The man continued, “My name is Commissioner Christopher Anders. I’m in charge of the precinct in Delta Falls.”
“Okay,” he answered, not sure why the man was calling them.
“I received a call from a Director Blackhawk yesterday, from the FBI.”
Then again, he knew exactly why the man was on the phone. Elizabeth probably threatened him and this was going to be retribution.
“Okay.”
“I would like to see you and your partner at the police station at nine this morning. Is that feasible?”
He didn't know what to say. “I guess, but what’s it pertaining to? We’re a little bit busy right now with an investigation.”
“I’m aware, and that’s why I’m asking for this meeting.”
Tori stared at him. Her husband looked befuddled.
“We can be there,” he stated.
“Terrific. Just come in and ask for me. Everyone is aware that you’ll be arriving for a private meeting.”
“Okay, Commissioner Anders,” he said, trying to clue in his wife. “We’ll see you then.”
When he hung up the phone, both his brother and wife were eagerly waiting.
“The police commissioner wants to see us.”
Justin didn't like the way that sounded. “I don’t like that at all.”
“You’re not coming,” Julian stated. He wasn’t letting his brother get pulled into whatever mess was coming. The commissioner said him and his partner. That meant this was going to be a duo heading there.
“What am I supposed to do then? Twiddle my thumbs?” Justin asked, as he began pacing the room.
“You need to go figure out if Brock Edwards and Josh Devaul worked together and were buddies. If they were, there’s our tie between the two women.”
“Will you call me if you need me?” he asked, not wanting his brother to take the heat alone on this.
“Yeah, I will Justin. I have Tori with me, and we’ll be fine.”
That seemed to mollify him marginally. Then, he remembered his plans for tonight.
“Before you go, can I talk to you both about something?” he asked.
Tori looked concerned. “Are you okay?”
“I want to get married.”
They both stared at him, as if waiting for some sort of punch line to the joke.
“Tonight.”
“What?” Julian asked, incredulously. “Did you ask her to marry you already?”
“Not exactly,” he replied.
Tori didn't know what to say. On second thought, she did but this seemed like a brother thing and she wasn’t going to get involved unless she needed to referee.
“Did you buy a ring?” Julian asked.
“It’s on my list for today.”
Julian closed his eyes and tried to process everything that his brother said to him. In the back of his mind, were the words his wife had shared with him about being supportive and having Justin’s back, no matter what.
“I’m telling you because you’re my brother, and you matter to me. I want your opinion, and I trust you. You’ve always been the logical one, Jules. If I’m going to get my heart handed to me, you’ll tell me.”
Tori looked at her husband, and then Justin. This had the potential to explode. She was well aware of how protective Julian was of his brother, and now the man was asking for his opinion.
Good Lord. Here it came. The ramifications on this were an endless possibility.
Julian opened his eyes and stared into his brother’s face. “Tell me your plans.”
“I want to take her to the courthouse in the next town, and then pop the question as we stand there. We can’t get married here, or word will travel fast. By being covert, I’m hoping to buy some time.”
Julian was staying calm. “Okay, that’s logical.” Well mostly…
“Then, I wanted to take her home to meet mom.”
Tori couldn’t help it, she started laughing. “Clarissa is going to kick your ass if you bring your WIFE home to make the introductions. She lost her mind over tattoos; a wife is just as permanent in her book.”
“I love her and don’t care what mom says,” he replied. “I care what you two say. Jules, you’re my best friend and Tori, you’re a close second in that race. That means that I trust you both to have my back.”
There were those words again. It was like the universe wanted Julian to be constantly reminded of them over and over again. What choice did he have at this point?
Julian stood and moved towards his brother. “Marry the girl, and I’ll support you,” he said, hugging his brother.
“I’ll be back tomorrow sometime and hopefully with a wife.” Justin wanted his brother there, but he knew they were in the middle of a case, and his business mattered to all their survival. This was their income.
“Good luck,” Julian said, as he released him.
Tori hugged her brother-in-law next and kissed him on the cheek. “Go get the girl, Marine.”
He grinned at her. “I’m working on it, Army.”
They both watched him walk away, and then Julian turned to his wife. “He’s screwed. Justin has no clue what he’s getting into on this one.”
“What are you proposing, Jules?” she asked, even as she agreed with him one hundred percent. Justin had a heart of gold, but he wasn’t accustomed to wooing the woman, unless it involved whiskey and a one night stand.
“How about a little side mission tonight?” he asked. “I know the Marines go in first, but the Army can be just as effective.”
“What’s your plan?” she asked.
He broke it down for her, from the marriage at the courthouse to the trip to the Rez. When he was done, Julian stared at her hopefully.
“Do you think it’ll work?” he asked.
Tori thought about it. “I think we can definitely help your brother out with the details to make it special, but it’s all going to hinge on Vivian saying yes. If she turns him down, his heart is going to be broken.”
“We’ll fix that then too.”
Tori began working it out in her mind. “Okay, count me in.”
“Team Littlemoon?” he asked, holding out his fist.
She bumped it, and then grinned. “Yeah, let’s help Justin add one more to the tribe.”
Chapter Fifteen
Vivian sat at her desk running the report on Viktor Demetriev. The entire time, her partner was incredibly agitated. He was chewing gum, slamming drawers, and clicking his pen erratically.
Finally, she couldn’t take any more of it.
“Why are you pissed?” she asked. Surely, he’d gotten over having to let Justin leave the interview yesterday. In their line of work, it happened all the time. This was nothing new and shouldn’t still have him in a tizzy. Perps, suspects, and innocent people walked all the time.
This was the element of the beast.
“I woke up this morning to see the sound bite of those asshole private investigators on the news. It set my day off, right there.”
Oh brother…
“If I have to look at them any more today, I’m taking the bridge,” he threatened.
Before she could comment, there was a voice being cleared behind her. She turned to see her boss standing there. “Commissioner Anders, what can we do for you?” she asked.
He moved closer. “I have a meeting in the conference room at nine, and it pertains to your case. So, your presence is requested.”
She nodded, as did Tom Lester. When the commissioner came to the office, it was best to give him anything he wanted.
“We’ll be there, sir,” Vivian replied.
“Bring all your case files and be ready to share everything that you have,” he stated. “Am I clear?”
Detective Lester didn't look happy. “Yes, sir.”
As the man walked away, he dropped his voice to a whisper. “Well, we’re being officially kicked off this case. He’s going to have some other team working on it.”
“How do you know?”
“We’re going to debrief someone with all our notes and be kicked out. It’s probably the homicide detectives. They most likely found a link to tie the two women together.”
Vivian didn't know if she should be happy or sad that the case was being handed off. This meant no more Littlemoons, and she had grown to like working with them.
“Hey, at least we ditched the private investigators, and they can go back to looking for lost pets,” stated Lester. “It looks like my day just got brighter.”
* * *
She had the prettiest hair that he had ever seen in his entire life. It was so dark black that it bordered on a midnight blue. When he saw it, he wanted to run his fingers through it.
Oh, he would get his chance.
Tonight, when she least expected it, she was going to be taking a little trip to his home.
He had a cage with her name on it.
His other woman in the collection needed companionship, and he needed a little variety. He was bored with the brunette. Oh how he wished that he didn't lose his temper with the blonde, and then his collection would be growing.
Alas, it was time to move forward.
Mistakes happened, and no one was going to tie her to him.
It was impossible.
He’d made sure of that.
The last few weeks, he had been watching her and memorizing her patterns. He knew that after work tonight, she’d head out to get a few drinks with her friends.
Since there was no one serious in her life, it would be easy to steal her away. No one would even notice as long as he pulled it off seamlessly.
Tonight, he’d bring her home and add her to his collected treasure.
And this time, he’d remain calm.
He had to pull it off.
There was no choice.
* * *
Very few things in life surprised her. Vivian was really good at her job, and with her ‘gift’ she had the advantage. What did shock the hell out of her was when the Littlemoons walked right past her desk and into the conference room.
It was where their meeting was being held.
Well shit! Her stomach began tying up in knots at all the possibilities. Had her boss somehow found out that she had been siphoning information to them?
If he did, she was as good as fired.
Plus, now, she was dealing with her partner. Just seeing the Littlemoons had him all stirred up and ready to lose his temper, even more so than just before.
Today was beginning to go downhill relatively fast.
“Detectives?” called the commissioner from the doorway. “Please bring your files and join us.”
Well, here it came. This was the day that her ten years, as a cop, came screaming to a halt.
Heading into the office, she took a seat opposite Tori and Julian. The only saving grace in all of this was that the man she loved wasn’t going to be there to watch her boss dress her down.
There was a small miracle.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re here,” stated Commissioner Anders. “Well, let me clear up the confusion. Yesterday, I received a call from the FBI.”
Julian’s palms got sweaty. Yeah, Elizabeth probably tore the man a new one, and now he was going before the firing squad. Way to piss off the cops in town.
Shit!
“In that call, I learned something very beneficial, and I’m always up for doing something that will help out our community and police force.”
Tori held Julian’s hand under the table. She could feel the tension reverberating through his body, and heard his heel tapping on the floor. That was his big sign that he was freaked out.
“I wasn’t aware that Littlemoon Investigations was contracted out by the FBI. Is that true, Mr. Littlemoon?”
Julian nodded. “I get hired by them to do a lot of tracking and finding. In fact, before coming here, they were my biggest client and still are.”
“That fascinates me,” he answered. “I also wasn’t aware that you, Mrs. Littlemoon, were once a special agent.”
“I was,” she replied. Tori wasn’t nervous in the least. She had been in boot camp and had scarier men and women scream at her to ‘motivate’ her into compliance. This was a walk in the park.
“Do you want to explain why you called us here?” she asked. “As much fun as this is, we have work to do.”
The commissioner grinned. “So, you’re the more aggressive of the two. There always is one on a good team. One member stands out while the other is the observer.”
Tori felt Julian tense even more, if that was possible.
The commissioner continued, “I asked you here for your help, and nothing more.”
“What?” stated Detective Lester, as he stood in shock. “You have to be kidding me!”
“Stand down, Detective,” the commissioner stated. “You don’t really have any choice in any of this. We have two women who were taken and one turned up dead. If we get evidence that they were abducted by the same person, it’s getting bumped to homicide, and you know it.”
The man sat but his face said it all.
“Why do you want our help?” Julian asked. This was both a curse and blessing. Now, Vivian was mostly off the hook. She may still need them to keep the dreams secret, but now they would have access to the files and information. He stared over at the angry man. Yeah, the detective was the big curse.
It was obvious how he felt about them.
“When your brother found the dead woman, I was impressed. That’s a skill that we can use on occasion, and in this case.”
Julian and Tori said nothing.
“You know that the brother could have hid the body,” stated Lester. “In fact, he probably had help,” he implied.
The commissioner looked over. “One more comment and you’re leaving. We all know that he didn't hide the body. You’re stalled and looking to hang this on someone. I did my research, Detective. The Littlemoons, specifically Julian, are damn good at their jobs.”
The detective kept his mouth shut.
“In the last year, you’ve closed the ‘Skinwalker’ murders, the ‘Fire bug’ killings, and were instrumental in helping the FBI with a killing in Cypress Grove. Those are just the ones attached to the FBI that made media attention. How many more have you assisted in, Mr. Littlemoon?”
Tori spoke instead, “You’re not privy to know that, and we’re not at liberty to discuss it. Our work for the FBI is restricted information, and no offense, but your detectives don’t have clearance.” Tori stared right at Detective Lester, almost challenging him to say anything.
The man bit his tongue.
“You’re hired,” the commissioner stated.
“What?” objected Lester.
“As commissioner, I’m allowed to call in experts, to assist on assignments, on a case by case basis. I think my detectives could use your help. You found Tawny James in under a day.”
“We’re already working for Mayor Lagerfeld and a little busy at this moment,” Julian stated. If this wer
e any other case, any other circumstance, he would be jumping for joy. This was steady work, and their growing business could use it. Unfortunately, this case was getting ugly, and they were already in over their head with dreams, dead women, and crazies.
He grinned at their attempt to get out of it. “I’m well aware of your affiliation. I spoke to Lewis, and he mentioned it. I want you to find his daughter and teach my detectives how to find things that are lost.”
“This is total bullshit!” muttered Lester. “I don’t need some young boy to teach me how to do something that I’ve been doing for over thirty years!”
Julian stared at the man, and his temper was rising. His skill wasn’t something that just anyone could do. Detective Lester was case in point. “We’ll help you, on one condition.”
The commissioner sat forward. He loved when people tried to bargain him into a corner. “Yes?”
“Your detective obviously hates us. I can’t work with someone who’s going to throw up roadblocks. It’s distracting.”
“And you propose what?”
Tori grinned at Vivian. She knew how Julian worked and this was going to be fun to watch.
“You make her the lead detective on this. Detective Graves has been nothing but calm, open minded, and willing to be a professional.”
Tom Lester stood. “I outrank her. This isn’t happening!”
The commissioner pondered it. As of late, he had gotten some uncomplimentary reports regarding his detective. Apparently, he had a bad attitude. What did he have to lose? “Deal. You start today.”
Julian stood and held out his hand. “I need copies of the files, and we’ll look them over at my office. I have other appointments for today.”
Vivian slid the files across the table to them. “Here are the copies that the commissioner had me make for you.”
Anders was incredibly pleased. With people backed by the FBI, he would make sure his division looked good in the eyes of everyone who looked their way. “Welcome to the team, Mr. and Mrs. Littlemoon. We look forward to watching you in action.”
Blood Red Rage (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 1) Page 23
