“Dee…”
She opened the door, her smile widening. “Make-up sex later?”
“Are you serious right now?”
“What? You’ve never had make-up sex before?”
Of course he never had that. He didn’t argue with women. He never had the gumption. With Dee, it came so easily. Plus, she loved to provoke him.
“I’ll take that as a no. I’ve never had it either. Something new we can try together.” She winked and walked out.
She was going to be the death of him. Or break his heart into a tiny million pieces. Either way, Dee loved to pull the emotions out of him in every direction. Nonstop.
It should scare him. Send him running in the opposite direction. When, really, it was sending him straight to her. Did she realize it? With Dee, it was hard to tell.
Make-up sex? Could sex get any more powerful between them?
Sex with her suddenly scared him. Nothing else frightened him, but that did. Last time they slept together, she ran. Would she run again?
Don’t give up.
Sound advice. Repeating it might give him the courage he needed.
Neither apologized. Oddly enough, he was okay with that. He didn’t like those words anymore. They were only words. Showing an apology with actions sounded like the best plan. He’d apologize with his hands, his lips, his entire body later tonight for his outburst. He should’ve never hollered at her. Never again.
He loved Dee.
Did she love him?
Chapter 11
Zeke took a left, passing a woman walking her two dogs. They were two minutes from their destination driving through a nice neighborhood that had a neighborhood watch. People were out and about walking or running, even in this cold weather. Although, they were actually blessed with a decent enough day where the cold didn’t bite you in the ass.
How did this guy steal a car in broad daylight without anyone noticing?
The victim, Tracy Stenson, had called the police shortly before suppertime last night to report her vehicle missing. She had parked it in the driveway, doors and windows closed and securely locked. Nothing of value was visible. She had to leave for her daughter’s gymnastics practice around five, only getting home at three. A two-hour window. This killer wasn’t only smart and skilled. He was brazen.
“What do you think about Sauer and Dee? Think they’ll make it?”
Zeke took another left and shrugged. “For Sauer, I hope so. Dee’s always been difficult. Since the moment I met her.”
Ben laughed. “Dude, she had a reason to hate you.”
“Whatever. You know what I’m saying. They’re cute together, I guess. She’s just an odd pick for him.”
“Rina said she’s been trying to talk to her about what’s going on and she isn’t talking. I hope she’ll be okay.”
“Nothing brings Dee down.”
Ben sighed. “There’s always something that can bring a person down.”
Zeke pulled into Tracy’s driveway and shut the vehicle off. “Should we help somehow? Dee might be difficult, but she is Zoe’s best friend. She’s like family.”
“I’m all for helping, but how?”
“Let’s interview this witness and then get the ladies involved. Maybe they’ll have a great idea. I haven’t got a clue how to play matchmaker.”
“You barely had a clue how to win Zoe’s heart.” Ben laughed. “And wait until baby number two is here. Even more clueless.”
“The whole baby thing is getting old. It doesn’t bug me.” Zeke knocked on the door. “Rina pregnant yet?”
“Is Zoe?”
“I bet we get pregnant before you.”
“What? You wanna race? I’m down with that. Making the baby is the best part.”
Zeke chuckled. “Damn right it is. Need any tips—” The door swung open. “Mrs. Stenson?”
A blonde-haired woman, early thirties, with a toddler in her arms, looked at them with confusion. “Yes. How can I help you?”
“Detective Chance and Detective Stoyer with the St. Cloud Police Department. We have some questions about your report of a stolen vehicle yesterday.” Zeke smiled to help ease the worry lining her face as he showed her his badge.
“Sure. Come in.” She held the door open and closed it as soon as they stepped in. “I told the officer everything I know yesterday.”
“Of course. We understand. There was an incident today where a man tried to hurt a woman, and he was driving your car.” Ben said each word softly. Zeke wanted to chuckle, of course, wouldn’t dare since it’d be highly inappropriate, but it reminded him so much of Rina. She was obviously rubbing off on him.
“That’s terrible. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, but he managed to get away. Did you hear anything? See anything strange when you got home from school?”
She shook her head at Zeke. “Same routine every day. Drop the kids off at school. Drop this one off at daycare,” she said with a nod to the toddler in her arms, who was wiggling like a worm on the end of a fishing pole. “I came home because I work from home, then I went and picked the kids up when it was time. I didn’t notice anything weird. I have no idea what to do. I need a car.”
Her eyes started to glisten. “My daughter missed gymnastics and was in tears last night because they have a big event coming up. I have no idea how I’m going to get them to school on Monday. I wish I could help you somehow.”
Zeke didn’t know what to say, or how to comfort her. Not once did she mention a husband, yet she didn’t correct him when he called her Mrs. Stenson. He got the impression she was a single mother. Ben clearly didn’t know what to say either because a long, awkward pause happened.
“Have you contacted your insurance yet?” Zeke finally asked.
“Can you believe there’s a waiting period to see if the car is recovered? Two weeks. That doesn’t include waiting to get a check and then trying to find another vehicle. I can’t live without a car for two weeks. I can’t afford to rent one for that long either.”
“We’re doing everything we can to find your vehicle. I promise. You notice anyone strange hanging around the neighborhood?” Ben asked.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could help you more.” She switched the toddler to her other side. “Maybe Barry will be more helpful.”
“Is that your husband?” Zeke asked, feeling slightly better she wasn’t alone. He hated to think of her struggling on her own.
She pressed her lips together as the tears gathered in her eyes. “No, my husband passed away last year. Barry’s the head of the neighborhood watch here. He’s like a hawk. Sits outside every day, just watching. He’s retired.”
“He sits outside in this cold weather?” Zeke asked, surprised, and back to feeling awkward and like an idiot for bringing up her husband.
“Off and on, about five to ten minutes at a time. Long enough to smoke a cigarette. Or he sits by his window and watches out. I feel safe knowing he’s watching. He’s three houses down.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Stenson. As soon as we find something out about your vehicle, you’ll be the first to know.” Zeke smiled, hoping to wipe those tears away.
She smiled weakly and nodded. “I appreciate that, Detective.”
♡
“Thanks, Susan.”
Dee took the wet wipe from Susan and tried to get all the fingerprint ink off her fingers.
“You okay?”
“Peachy keen.”
“It’s not every day someone breaks into your home and attacks you, then tries again. I repeat, are you okay?”
Dee tossed the wipe into the trashcan sitting in the corner not far from the desk. Sauer and her had driven in his car, while Newman followed them to the precinct after leaving Stitch’s shop. Sauer walked her to the crime lab, which was on the second level of the building, and left her with Susan. Her office was tiny, but immaculate. Susan was very organized. Her desk was clutter free, filing cabinets closed with nothing on top. Everything appeared in its place. Not
even a piece of paper sat askew. Dee was just as organized. Sort of. She left some crap lying around her desk, especially while she worked. Not Susan. She pulled out everything they needed to take her prints, then just as quickly, put it all away. She handled a few phone calls while Dee waited patiently. Each time, she wrote down a note on a small Post-it. Then she quickly pulled a notebook out of the top drawer, jotted down a notation, then tossed the note away. All very efficient-like and with a speed that said she did it every day, all day.
“Ignoring me doesn’t help me think you’re okay.”
“I’m okay. I’m more confused about my social life.” As soon as she said that, she regretted it. Why was she talking to Susan about her personal life? Sure, she occasionally saw her here and there, but she wasn’t someone she talked to about private things with.
“Men. Tell me about it.”
Dee jerked her head up.
“Oh, I know you and Sauer got a thing going on. He’s a great guy. You’re lucky. I’m sure it’ll work out.” Susan plopped down into her chair. “Men are just so confusing…and aggravating.”
“They are. I think that’s what has me so messed up in the head. Sauer’s a nice guy. I don’t date nice guys.”
“He’s the best. I have to admit, Zeke and Ben are my favorite. But Sauer, he’s like his own kind of special. You’re right. He’s always so nice, so considerate.”
“What guy has you in knots?”
Susan blushed and hesitated as she wrung her hands on top of the desk.
“Come on. Tell me. What’s said in the crime lab, stays in the crime lab.”
Susan chuckled as she stopped fidgeting. “Will you keep it between us?”
Dee leaned closer, totally intrigued. “Of course. My lips are zipped.”
Biting her lip, Susan hesitated again. “You could call it a crush. I work with him, but I don’t think he knows I exist and…God, I feel like I’m in high school right now telling you this.”
Dee slapped her knee as she laughed. “I hated high school. Gossip was the worst.” She tapped her chin. “Can I guess who it is?”
“Sure.”
Dee sat there thinking hard. She didn’t know Susan well at all. On occasion they all went out for drinks, Susan sometimes showed up. It didn’t happen often. The normal crew was her, Ben and Rina, Zeke and Zoe, Sauer and Newman, and a few other guys from the precinct. It couldn’t be Ben or Zeke because Susan wouldn’t sleep around with married men. It wasn’t Sauer, because she didn’t think Susan would be stupid enough to try and take him away from her.
Whoa. That seemed territorial of her. Since when did she react like that about a guy? Like, never.
Didn’t matter. Sauer was hers. Any woman who dared to try and steal him away would see her wrath.
Hmm. Who could it be? Newman? He was dating Chrissy. Susan didn’t strike her as the type to fool around with unavailable men. The other guys in the precinct she just didn’t know that well. Maybe it was Trey. He could be loud and obnoxious when he showed up. He tried to get in her pants one time. Of course, she shut him down immediately without saying much.
“I’m stumped. That never happens.”
Susan giggled. “I’m shocked.” Then her face turned red. “I’m embarrassed to admit it. He’s not even available.”
Dee sat straighter. She still didn’t believe Susan would mess around with a guy who was unavailable. Who cares if she had a crush? There was nothing wrong with looking, she just couldn’t touch.
She cocked a brow. “Well?”
Sighing, her face bloomed a deeper red. “It’s—” The phone rang.
Dee could’ve groaned in dismay. She wanted to know so badly who Susan had a crush on. Damn the phone. Dee leaned back in her chair as Susan went about her business once again. The woman never took a break just to breathe. She had no idea how Susan stayed so chipper and in control as busy as she was.
♡
“Mrs. Stenson didn’t have much to add other than the fact it sucks when your car gets stolen. Did you know her insurance is waiting two weeks to see if it’s recovered before they do anything?” Zeke propped his long frame against the desk across from Sauer’s.
“I think every insurance is different. My neighbor, a few houses down, had their car stolen a year ago. I’m pretty sure they only had to wait a week. The car was never recovered,” Newman said.
“We did talk to the neighborhood watch guy, Barry Jenkins. He didn’t notice anything at the time, but he’s a suspicious dude. He has security cameras outside. He said he went through them and he has the guy on video driving away. It wasn’t helpful. The guy had a hoodie on and you couldn’t see his face. It was time-stamped at 4:05 pm. The question is, did he stake out her house, or was it random?” Ben said as he stood near Zeke.
“I’m hoping for random. He’s only killed one woman so far. Vanessa and Dee have nothing in common, so he really has no MO. I might ask patrols to step it up in her neighborhood, just in case.” Sauer leaned back in his chair, trying not to think about Dee and how she was doing with Susan.
“That’s a good idea,” Zeke said. “Anything else you two want us to do today?”
Sauer shared a look with Newman, then said, “Na, I think we’re good for today. Thanks for helping.”
“Well, it is Saturday. Let’s call it a day. Be back here bright and early Monday morning.” Newman stood up and chuckled. “As long as Dee doesn’t create another fiasco and steal your car.”
“Borrowed.” Sauer stood up as well. “I’ll see you guys later. Thanks again.”
He walked away without waiting for a response. Getting into whether she borrowed or stole his car wasn’t on his to-do list. He didn’t care what anyone said. She borrowed it…without permission. No doubt, it had to do with the fact he scared her.
She wanted make-up sex. The thought terrified him. Would she get scared again afterwards? Would she borrow his car again? Would he survive another attempt of her fleeing? Geez, would she even go home with him? He was assuming she would.
Yeah. He had a tough heart. It survived so many pains, not much could damage it anymore.
As he stood outside Susan’s office, eyeing Dee through the small window in the door, he realized how foolish that thinking was. His heart wouldn’t survive another round of pain from her. She was too deeply embedded inside him. She was his everything. So quickly, too. He knew the exact moment it happened. This morning when they made sweet love.
Maybe he jumped the gun on that. He always took sex seriously. It wasn’t a casual thing to him. He went in with his heart on display and it got trampled on the minute she walked out. Could he offer his heart like that one more time?
She was expecting sex. Dee didn’t like to be denied anything.
Well, at least his courage with her was getting better. He wasn’t stumbling over his words as much. If anything, his words were getting more aggressive than he ever had with a woman.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked once on the door and stepped inside.
“How’s it going?”
Susan hung up the phone and smiled. “Great. We’re done. I’ll run these prints as soon as I can. I still have to run the DNA on the blood I gathered as well. When I know, you’ll know.”
“Anything pan out with the car?” Dee asked as she stood up.
Sauer hesitated. He didn’t want to answer that. She knew he didn’t want to, yet still asked. The more knowledge she gained of the case, the worse it would be. Honestly, could it get much worse? If he didn’t tell her, she might go out on her own again and try solving the case. He felt damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.
“You’re really not going to tell me?”
The annoyance was plain, as was her pain. Did she think by not telling her he didn’t trust her? Trust wasn’t the issue. Well, not really. He didn’t trust her to not go off on her own.
“Ugh, you’re the most aggravating man ever, especially when you don’t speak.” Dee brushed past him and walked out of the office.<
br />
Guess he took too long to answer the question.
“I would’ve never thought you’d look so happy.”
Sauer looked at Susan, no smile on his face. “What?”
“It’s in your eyes. The minute you looked at her, I saw it in your eyes. I know it’s hard, but telling her small things about the case might help. She just doesn’t want to feel useless.” Susan held up her hand. “I know it’s your job, not hers, but come on, Sauer. This is Dee. She isn’t someone who idly sits around. She gets antsy. Telling her something rather than nothing might show her you trust her to leave it to you.”
Trust.
How did Susan guess what he was thinking? He did trust Dee. Mostly. Either way, Dee would do her own sleuthing if he didn’t give in a little. That couldn’t happen again. She was the most fearless woman he ever met. Getting attacked twice didn’t appear to affect her as it would other people.
“You might be right. I just don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“You’re a good guy, Sauer. She’s lucky to have you.” Susan smiled. A sweet, bright smile that finally made him offer one back.
“Thanks, Susan. I’ll see you later.”
He walked out, curious where Dee sauntered off. If she left… He wouldn’t think about it. She wouldn’t do that to him twice.
He made his way back to his desk, hoping that’s where she wandered off, and sighed heavily with relief when he saw her lounging in his chair.
“Ready to go?”
She looked up at him. “Where are we going?”
Such a loaded question thick with an intense emotion. With such pain. A wrong answer was possible. He wasn’t too confident in the answer lingering in his mind.
“Home.”
Brow cocked, she tilted her head. His heart pounded as he waited for her to say something to his brazen word. He obviously meant his house, which she knew. But that’s not what he said. There was a distinct difference, at least to him. A house you dwelled in, slept in, did your normal functions. A home signified love, a place to feel wanted and cared for. Would she finally acknowledge his love just a little?
“Can we pick up fast food on the way? I’m starving.” She stood up, her winter jacket already on, and started walking. He snagged his jacket from behind his chair and followed her.
One Taste of Crazy (A One Taste Novel Book 3) Page 12
