As he tugged her away, her phone vibrated in her hand. She hadn’t turned the ringer back on after the broadcast.
“Alex, wait.” He stopped and raised a brow. “Incoming text.” She glanced at the screen. “It’s from the Vigilante.” Alex moved behind to read over her shoulder, and she motioned for Jonah. He hurried over. The text listed an address with the instructions that they were to dig beneath the top right corner of a concrete patio in the back yard.
Jonah punched the address into his phone. “I’ll get the camera crew while you inform the detectives.”
Olivia and Alex headed to the Green Room to alert Sawyer, Benson and Kramer. “I recognize that address,” Kramer said, punching it into her phone. “I’m pretty sure it’s Tanner’s home on Long Island.”
“So he kills his partner, buries him in the back yard and throws barbeques over the corpse?” Sawyer shook his head. “Man, that’s cold.”
The detectives called for back-up and took off for the scene. Olivia rode with Alex and Sawyer while Jonah, Roddy and Phil tailed in the remote broadcast van. It took an hour with traffic to arrive at Tanner’s mansion. Crews were already on site with a backhoe. A group of emergency personnel were huddled around something on the ground near the drive to his house, so they weren’t allowed close. It was a long time before Benson gave them the thumbs up to give the breaking news report. The object on the ground had been Tanner’s body. Crews busted up the concrete and found Whitmore’s body as well. Off the record, Benson told them that someone had messed with Tanner’s security system so they couldn’t pull footage from the cameras surrounding the property. Tanner’s wife had been home but she denied knowing her husband had killed his partner or buried the body beneath the patio.
This was the third victim and the cops had absolutely no leads.
It was the early hours of the morning by the time they pulled into the underground garage beneath the hotel. Olivia wasn’t sure what the sleeping situation would be now that Sawyer was here and she was afraid to ask. Alex had such a strong moral code, she knew he wouldn’t want it to look like he was personally involved with a client. She decided to just head to the bedroom and see if he followed.
“When will the Vigilante send another tape?” Sawyer asked as they entered the room.
“Probably tomorrow morning, but I’m not sure how it’ll arrive. We can check my mailbox on the way to the gym.”
“Speaking of gyms.” Alex cleared his throat. “One of the requirements I gave BeBe when she was making arrangements was a weight room. This hotel has a fully-stocked one I thought we could use.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “You just don’t want to go back to Pump It Up.”
Alex smiled unrepentantly. “You got me there.”
Sawyer glanced between them. “Are you arguing about a gym?”
“It’s not a real gym.”
She gasped, outraged. “It is too a real gym.”
Alex addressed Sawyer. “Picture this: Enya playing in the background, curtains with sequins, and men wearing tights—with leg warmers.”
Sawyer flinched. “I’m sorry, Olivia, I’m with Alex on this one. Sequins? Enya? Legwarmers?” He shuddered.
“Well, you two manly men can work out here. My shoes are at my gym so I’ll be going there. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s late and I need sleep.”
She waved over her shoulder as she headed to the bedroom. She knew they wouldn’t let her work out alone at her gym and she didn’t mind using the one here, she just didn’t want to give in too easily. Actually, getting away from Faye’s probing questions sounded like a good idea. The woman grilled her on the phone earlier about the case.
She yelped when strong arms wrapped around her stomach. She didn’t even hear him come in. He nuzzled her neck. “Um, Sawyer, you feel so good.”
Alex spun her around so fast, she’d have fallen if he wasn’t holding her up. “What the hell?” He narrowed his eyes at her huge smile.
“Just getting you back for the gym comment.”
“I’m going to make you forget every other man’s name.” She squealed when he scooped her up and tossed her to the bed. He followed her down, kissed her senseless and proceeded to make good on his threat.
Chapter Nineteen
Callie Graves hated coming into the office during the week. They wouldn’t give her the coveted Monday through Friday spot, so why should she have to waste her precious time being here? And whoever thought it was a good idea to hold staff meetings on Fridays was seriously twisted.
She was already pissed she hadn’t been called to fill in when Olivia didn’t show up on Wednesday. That they used Jinger, the naïve country bumpkin made her blood boil. Jinger was blonde and bouncy and her twangy accent made Callie want to either puke or punch her in the face. And the reason Olivia didn’t show up irked her, too. She’d been shot at and now everyone was fawning all over her like she was a priceless piece of china or something. Too bad the bullets didn’t hit her. Then maybe Callie would get the job she really wanted. Snarky, sure, but she was tired of getting passed over for Olivia.
She pushed through the door, intending to head straight for her cubicle.
“Welcome to NYC-TV3! Can I help you, ma’am?”
Callie stopped dead in her tracks and slowly rotated to glare at the woman sitting behind the desk. She was young and perky and Callie hated her on sight. “Ma’am? Did you just call me ma’am?”
The woman’s eyes widened and she nodded uncertainly. The smile slipped from her face.
“Don’t you know who I am?” She marched forward and smacked a hand on the counter. The girl flinched. “I’m the top talent of this network, the lead anchor.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” the girl apologized. “It’s only my second day and I’m still learning names.”
Callie shook her head, intending to dress the girl down when a small package caught her eye. It was a padded envelope addressed to Olivia. Callie’s heart beat faster. Could this be one of the videos from the Vigilante?
“I suggest you learn them quicker.” She swept up the envelope. “I’ll take this with me.”
“Okay, sure, Ms. Larrson. It was nice to meet you, and I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
Callie breezed away, not bothering to correct the stupid girl or return her comment. Receptionists were beneath her so she didn’t bother to learn the girl’s name.
Once she was out of sight, she practically ran to her cubicle. She scoped out the people milling about. No one was paying attention to her. She booted up her computer, did one more check to make sure no one was looking, then she ripped open the package and slid the drive in her computer. There was only one file marked, Clarke, Morris. She made sure the sound was turned low and hit play.
A man’s face came on screen. He looked haggard and homeless and Callie wrinkled her nose as if she could smell him from here. Sweat coated his entire forehead. “My name’s Morris Clarke, and I killed Douglas and Edith Wicks.”
Callie’s breaths were pumping in and out like someone working a bellows. It was from the Vigilante! The man said some other things but Callie tuned him out as she constructed a script in her head to announce the video. Then a note flashed up, saying Olivia must deliver the message, blah, blah, blah. Repercussions, blah, blah, blah. Too damn bad. Finders keepers. Olivia wasn’t doing this one. Callie was.
She’d worked her way up through the ranks, so she knew how to edit a video. She even had a program on her computer that would do the job. She snipped off the part about Olivia announcing the clip and pulled the drive from the port. She could barely contain her excitement.
The instructions said the video had to be played tomorrow, so she would make sure to stick to that guideline. She’d run into Aaron’s office waving the tape, saying it’d come to her. Then they could get everything set up so she could deliver the message. It would be her face breaking the news about the latest victim of the Vigilante.
She slid the flash drive in her purse and checked her watch. It was
time for the stupid meeting. She stood to leave when she remembered the envelope with Olivia’s name. She dropped back into her chair, opened a drawer for a pair of scissors and shredded the envelope beyond recognition. Just to be safe, she gathered the pieces and carried them into the break room to toss them in the trash.
With a huge smile on her face, she patted her purse and headed to the conference room.
#
Mindy Prescott blew her bangs out of her eyes and sighed. This job was harder than she thought it would be. She could easily answer the phone since hers was practically attached to her ear. Greeting visitors was a breeze. She liked meeting people. But when she had to deal with nasty women like Olivia Larrson, that made the job difficult. The woman’s green eyes had shot sparks that practically singed her. When she spun around to stomp off, her mane of red hair almost smacked Mindy in the face and she had to duck out of the way.
The bell on the door chimed and she forgot all about mean Olivia. A man strolled inside with an air of confidence. Young. Handsome. Medium height with brown hair and green eyes. She arched her back and smiled. “Welcome to NYC-TV3. Can I help you?” She didn’t add the ‘sir’ since ‘ma’am’ seemed to piss Olivia off for some reason. She didn’t want this handsome stranger getting angry with her.
He stopped in front of the desk and raked his eyes over her prominently displayed chest. Up close, she could see flecks of brown in his green eyes. His clothes were designer and he smelled delicious. He flashed a killer smile. She wasn’t sure, but she might’ve sighed.
“You can definitely help me,” he looked down at her brand-spanking-new nameplate, “Mindy. I’m writing a screenplay and I’ve included a scene in a newsroom. I was wondering if I could interview one of the anchors to you know, add authenticity to the movie.”
“How exciting! I’ve always wanted to be an actress,” she confessed.
“Sweetheart, you definitely have the looks to be on screen.”
Mindy preened at his comment.
“So, I was hoping to interview Olivia Larrson.”
Mindy’s nose crinkled. Why would he want to talk to that witch? Mindy didn’t watch the news, so maybe she came across as nice on television. In person, she was a red-headed bitch on wheels. “She’s not around,” she lied. “I can leave a message for her if you give me your number?” She added enough suggestion to the comment that he had to know what she meant.
It worked. His smile was pure wicked. “How about we forget about her and I take you to dinner instead.”
Mindy’s heart raced. She didn’t miss the intent in his question. “I’d love to.”
After making arrangements to meet at a restaurant, he turned to leave.
“Wait,” she called after him.
He turned with a questioning look.
“I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s ah, Ray. Ray Smith.”
#
Trent smiled as he slipped on his sunglasses and strolled out of the television station. He didn’t think he’d actually get to speak to Olivia Larrson—it couldn’t be that easy—but Mindy Big Boobs was an unexpected bonus. The chick had totally been into him. Her brown hair was long and shiny, her gray eyes sparkled. And she was stacked. He chuckled. It’d be no hardship to get close to her and he had no problem using her. What he really wanted was to get a look at the inside of the station and she was his in. He had a few other ideas up his sleeve on how to get to Larrson, but he liked to have back-up plans in place. That was just good practice.
It’d been a stroke of genius to give Mindy Ray’s name. When Larrson was killed, and she would be, there would be nothing to tie him to the crime.
His cell rang and he checked the display, a spurt of panic shooting through him when he saw the name on the screen. He stopped abruptly, causing pedestrians behind him to bob and weave around him. He ignored the curses and raised middle fingers. “Hello?”
“Mr. Charles? This is Fran Dixon, your lawyer.”
“Yes, Mrs. Dixon. What do you need.”
“I just received a call from the police department. It seems that they are focusing on you and Mr. Smith again for the disappearance of Laurie Spellman.”
“What?” Trent’s heart pounded against his rib cage. Even though ninety percent of the time, Ray was batshit crazy, he’d been right about Laurie’s father. The man had badgered the authorities until they considered him and Ray as suspects again. Could Ray have been right about the Vigilante coming after them, too? “We already gave our statements. Make them go away. Just tell them I have no comment.”
There was a short pause. “I wouldn’t recommend that, Mr. Charles.”
Trent’s blood boiled. He didn’t like her holier-than-thou tone. She was paid exorbitantly well to defend him but he had the feeling she didn’t believe him. The fact that he was guilty was beside the point.
“If you refuse to speak with them, it only makes you look like you have something to hide. Do you have something to hide, Mr. Charles?”
His trigger finger twitched automatically. Maybe he’d have to pay her a visit with his friends Smith and Wesson…after she got him off the hook. “No, I have nothing to hide and I don’t have a problem talking to the authorities again, but I’m a…out of town for a few days. I can’t come back just to tell the police the same thing I told them earlier.”
“I would recommend that you speak to them as soon as possible. I’ll let them know that you’re away but I can’t promise a warrant won’t be issued for your arrest. I’ll expect a call from you in the next few days so we can set up a time for the interview.”
She hung up and Trent fought the urge to chuck his phone like a baseball. He needed an outlet to channel the rage festering inside him. The beast clawed to get out. His eyes roamed the area, landing on a woman headed his way. She smiled at him as she passed. Short. Blonde. She reminded him of both Laurie and Olivia Larrson. He spun on his heel and followed her.
Chapter Twenty
Olivia couldn’t believe she was getting dressed to attend her roommate’s funeral. After the horrible night when they found Darla and Arlo, and Susannah had offered to pack her bag, it didn’t cross her mind that she would need a formal outfit. Sawyer volunteered to go inside the apartment and gather her clothes. She was thankful because she didn’t think she could step inside this soon.
She’d given Sawyer a description of which dress she wanted but he wasn’t sure which one so he brought the three black dresses hanging in her closet. She chose her knee-length sleeveless Dolce & Gabbana dress with a round collar and an overlay of black lace. It was classy and elegant. She paired it with a pair of Tory Burch Waterbury Convertible boots. The boots converted from knee-high to ankle boots and she loved the stacked four-inch heel that added much-needed height to her frame. Even though she had to wear them often, she wasn’t comfortable in heels. She’d rather slip on a pair of sneakers any day. Simple pearl studs that her parents had gifted her on her sixteenth birthday complimented the outfit.
Today should’ve been the day she announced another video from the Vigilante but no package had been delivered yesterday. When she woke up, Alex was already dressed for a workout…and her running shoes were waiting for her. Apparently he’d sent Sawyer to pick up her shoes when he stopped by her apartment to grab her mail. No package had been waiting at either place and Faye promised to call if one arrived at the gym.
After they worked out in the hotel exercise room, they all showered and headed to the station for her weekly staff meeting. They ate lunch in the Village then lounged around the hotel until it was time to return to the station. Sawyer had dropped them off and swung by her apartment again, but her mailbox was empty. Either the Vigilante was changing the two-day time frame or he or she had given up on revenge killing. Either way, there would be no breaking news report today.
She stepped out of the bedroom and the sight that met her took her breath away. Two tall gorgeous men dressed in suits. They looked like catalogue models and if the marketin
g staff at Armani could see them right now, they’d fall all over themselves trying to sign them up.
When they realized the men would need suits to attend the funeral, she thought she’d take them to Bloomingdales or Macys. Instead, Sawyer knew of a discount megastore in Tribeca that featured three floors of designer duds at up to eighty percent off. She couldn’t believe she’d never been shopping at the bargain bazaar. They didn’t have time for her to browse today but she’d definitely be back.
While Sawyer looked at ease trying on the clothing, Alex looked like he’d rather be enduring a root canal. She enjoyed her job of picking out which suit looked best on each man. And they looked magnificent.
Her cell rang and she looked at the display. “Hey Kendall.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your roommate was murdered! My gosh, Liv, I would’ve jumped on a plane to be there with you.”
“And that’s why I didn’t tell you,” Olivia commented drily. “You’re on your honeymoon.”
“I don’t care and Dorian would’ve totally understood. Heck, he’s ready to hop on a plane with me. We should be there for you.”
“I’m fine and you’re right where you’re supposed to be. How did you find out, anyway?”
“Dorian talked to Alex. We’re packing up now.”
“No, please don’t. I’m begging you, Kendall. Stay in Hawaii, enjoy your honeymoon. Don’t add that guilt to my plate. I already feel bad enough that Darla was murdered.”
“Don’t you dare try to blame yourself,” Kendall insisted sharply. “You didn’t pull the trigger. You’re just as innocent in this whole mess as Darla.”
It was easy for someone else to say, but Olivia would go to her grave with remorse. “So you promise you won’t come back?”
Kendall sighed. “The only reason I’m giving in is because I know you’re in good hands with Alex. How is that going?”
Olivia paused. She and Kendall shared everything but she was too sentimental at the moment and she was afraid she’d declare her love to Kendall before she even told him. “Good. He and Sawyer are doing a great job. In fact, I’m going to send you a picture of them as soon as we hang up.” They spoke for a few more minutes with Kendall again promising to stay on her honeymoon. She walked back into the living area and made the men stand together so she could snap a picture. She told them it was for Kendall, but it was really for her. Nothing against Sawyer, because he was gorgeous, but she planned on cropping him out of the photo for her own personal enjoyment. She fired it off to Kendall and her reply text was instant: WOW!! HUBBA HUBBA!!
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