Hell Is Burning

by Morgan Kelley

  “I know why you’re staring at me, Mom. I’m fine,” he stated. “If Brynn was alive, he could have her. I would have filed had I known she was sleeping around.”

  She patted him on the back.

  Greyson glanced over at his profiler. “What can you give us?”

  “Well, until I run everything, not much. I will say that I find it suspicious that all the victims, sans Brynn, were all sexually deviant.”

  They waited for him to say more.

  “The first victim, Shirley, was a lesbian. The killer’s second victim was screwing men openly at the gym, and then Kelly Granger was involved with a man who couldn’t keep it in his pants.”

  Greyson added the swinger part.

  “That might be enough to piss a killer off. If it’s someone who’s damaged, he’s going to lose it. Thus, beating her face in or raping Carrie Corwell. Our killer is evolving, and that’s going to make this difficult.”

  He thought about it. Croft never considered that the killer might be selecting them because they were easy. Could it all be about sex?

  “So, our killer hates women who aren’t afraid to be sexually liberated,” Emma stated. “That opens this up to a lot of possible victims. This is Vegas. They don’t call it ‘Sin City’ for the fun of it. God moved out a long time ago.”

  They all agreed there.

  “Are we sure Brynn wasn’t part of this?” Curtis asked. “Screwing your partner, while married, is definitely ‘sexually liberated’,” he said, using her words.

  They were fairly sure.

  “I need to profile the three men, add it in, and see what I come up with,” Paris stated. “I’ll work on it tonight while I’m here.”

  Emma shook her head. “You and Tessa can’t be here together.”

  They looked over.

  “Why not?” Tessa asked.

  “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” she stated.

  “Oh, is that what I did wrong?” Curtis asked, trying to be funny, but the humor wasn’t reaching his eyes.

  “When Greyson and I got married, we had our honeymoon first, and on that last day here we got married. He insisted we go our separate ways, and then met at the chapel on the strip. You two can’t see each other.”

  “We’re in the middle of an investigation,” Tessa said. “Besides, I don’t want to leave him alone here to do all the work. Someone is a workaholic.”

  Paris laughed. “I don’t want Tessie by herself at home. There’s a killer running around.”

  Emma had a solution. “Tessa is coming with us. We have a room ready for her, and she can get dressed and ride with us to the wedding.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “What about Paris? I can’t leave him behind.”

  Mace raised his hand. “Since the person after Greyson might take a shot at you two, Paris is coming home with me. He’s going to hang out at my bachelor pad. We’re going to eat Chinese, drink beer, and find a killer.”

  He grinned. “That sounds close to a perfect evening.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Emma stated. “You two are getting married tomorrow morning. We’ve worked around the clock on this one, and hopefully, the killer will take a night off. Tomorrow, you’re getting hitched.”

  They couldn’t wait.

  “Don’t work too late tonight, Paris. You have a bride to meet at the altar,” Emma stated, getting up from the table.

  Oh, she didn't have to remind him. This was the day Paris had worked so hard to reach. Here was his end goal. “Just keep my bride-to-be safe. I’ll get you the profile.”

  As they headed out, Curtis was really quiet. He wanted to be jealous, but he knew his partner had to fight tooth and nail to save Paris from himself. She deserved this.

  “Want to come tomorrow?” Tessa asked.

  “Who? Me?”

  She laughed. “Yes, you. You’re my partner. I can’t imagine you not being there.”

  “Yeah, I think I will.”

  She dropped her arm over his shoulder as they followed the Crofts out. “You’ll find the right one,” she promised. “I can already tell.”

  He glanced over at her. “How do you know?”

  “You’re due. When shit hits, it’s a sign that the good mojo is on its way. You handled this like a champ. There’s no way you won’t win the big prize. Just keep fighting.”

  Curtis laughed.

  He only hoped she was right.

  They stopped down in the morgue before heading out. While Tessa and Curtis headed to the car, Emma and Greyson went down to spring their friend. There was no way they were letting him get tied up in the morgue when he needed to be heading home with them. Tonight was about celebrating and trying to forget the shittastic week they’d all had.

  Even cops and Feds needed a break.

  As they entered, they saw the shooter on the table.

  “He’s just a kid,” Emma stated. “He can’t be more than twenty five years old. What the hell was he thinking?”

  “He likely wasn’t. As for him being a kid, if you’re going to play Russian roulette with a killer, you’re not likely going to live to be a man.”

  “Who is he?” Croft asked. He wasn’t feeling all that magnanimous toward him. His wife had a bruise on her back from where the bullet hit the vest.

  May he rot in hell for trying to hurt what was precious to Greyson.

  “His name is Clifford Vanburen, and he’s twenty four years old. When I ran his prints, they came back with multiple hits. From his record, he’s had a tough life and liked crime. He has a rap sheet a mile long. It’s mostly petty stuff, but trying to gun down a director, Agent, and detective puts him in the big league.”

  “Yeah, the big league of stupid,” Emma stated.

  “He was an easy mark,” Greyson added, “and expendable. The killer saw this idiot coming.”

  “What about our fifth victim?”

  “She’s the same as the others. We ran the DNA, and it’s not Detective McGuire’s. He definitely didn't assault her, so we can eliminate him and Curtis too. They’re both in the clear. We’re still running it through the system to find a match, and it may take a while. There are a lot of different databases. Max is going to keep an eye on it until I get in tomorrow to do Clifford’s autopsy.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What can you tell us about Carrie?”

  “There’s no broken hyoid, much like the others. She was dead before he strung her up, but she was alive during the assault. There were internal tears, and she bled. He wasn’t raping a dead body.”

  “Well, that’s good to know,” Greyson said. “Bad for her, but at least we know he’s not that depraved….yet.”

  Emma laughed. “Yeah, there’s nothing sick about stringing women up to stare at them like ornaments on a Christmas tree.”

  Croft pulled her under his arm. “Need a lift home?” he asked the ME.

  “You do realize that I have a perfectly suitable condo to stay at, and I don’t mind living there.”

  “Are you saying you don’t want to stay with us?” Emma asked.

  He laughed. “Is Reggie still there?”

  Greyson wasn’t sure. “I didn't ask Dante. I’ve been tied up all day.”

  Steele hesitated before finally giving in. “Well, I guess I can join you. I just feel bad because when I’m around, you’re trying to keep her focused on you, and Dante is a nervous wreck.”

  Emma patted his cheek. “You’re our family. Come home. You don’t have to worry about her. We love you, so that’s all that matters.”

  Steele smiled at her. “I liked working with you, Detective, but I think I like being part of your family even more.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Greyson had a question. “Do you really like that building you live in? Would you recommend it to people looking to buy a new place?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “I just bought a condo there.”

  “Why? You don’t you own enough of the city? You realize
this isn’t supposed to be like a game of Monopoly.”

  He laughed.

  “I love that game,” Emma admitted. “We have to play some time. I want to kick all your asses.”

  Steele never played a board game in his life. “I think that would be fun, but seriously, why the condo?”

  “It’s not for us. This one is for the captain. We stopped by his place, and he lives in the hood. Emma didn't like the area, and she’s mothering everyone she knows.”

  Emma elbowed him.

  “Except me. She likes beating on her husband. Apparently, buying her pretty things doesn’t get me preferential treatment.”

  She snorted.

  Steele grinned. “Well, it’s a nice place. It’s quiet, and there’s hardly any crime. There are a lot of gay men who live there.”

  Greyson began laughing. “And I didn't even plan it. That makes this even better.”

  Emma shook her head. “Really, Greyson? Do you have to torment Chris now too?”

  “What? Who me?”

  She focused the conversation on Carrie so they could get the hell out of there. Emma was maxed out on work for the day. “So she was strangled. Is that going on the report?”

  “Yep. That’s your COD. She was asphyxiated, but this time, it was done with hands. He must have had her on her back, and when he was finished assaulting her, he choked her to death.”

  “Well, he’s not deviating, too, much. Maybe he’s not at the brink of losing it. He’s crazy enough. Who knows what he’ll do if he snaps?”

  Greyson agreed there.

  “Let’s get out of here. We have to swing by Tessa’s and get her wedding dress. Then home to get dressed.”

  Steele Bentley washed his hands, stripped out of his scrubs, and pulled on his normal clothes. When he was done, he exited his office, messenger bag in hand. “I’m ready.”

  The trio headed out, hoping to have a normal night.

  As if being rich was normal.

  As if schmoozing with assholes was normal.

  It was going to be one hell of a boring night, and they all knew it, but at least they could leave death at the office.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  Terrace Glen

  Two Hours Later

  When they arrived home, Greyson found his mother and father still there. They were keeping Dante company, and he didn't exactly look like he was having a good time.

  In fact, he had three empty beer bottles on the desk, and a serious look on his face.

  That told the tale of his day.

  Emma didn't stick around when they walked in. Instead, she headed right up to their room. Her patience was wearing thin, and she wanted to enjoy her evening.

  When Reggie wanted to talk, Greyson couldn’t be bothered. They’d barely slept, spent the entire day dealing with death and assholes, so they didn't need more shit the minute they walked through the door.

  Besides, unless his mother was apologizing, he didn't want to hear it. In fact, she needed to direct that sorry toward Emma and Steele. They’d taken the brunt of her shitty attitude, and Greyson wanted her to know he was dead serious. On this, he wasn’t relenting.

  The line was drawn.

  Upstairs, he got into his tux. While he was dressing, his eyes kept lingering back to the box sitting on Curtis’s dresser. It was his intent to surprise Emma in a little bit, but he had some other business to attend to first.

  When he was finished making himself presentable, he turned, asking Curtis what he thought.

  “You look good, Grey.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” he asked. “There’s room in the limo for one more.”

  “Nah, I’ll hang here. The chef is making lasagna.”

  “Katerina will be roaming around the party to keep an eye on Emma.”

  He glanced up at her name, and while it was incredibly tempting, he wasn’t quite ready yet.

  “Yeah, I thought so.”

  “There’s nothing between us.”

  “Hey, son, you don’t have to explain anything to me. You’re allowed to have a life, and after what you lived through, you deserve it. I’d be lying if I didn't tell you that she’s always checking you out.”

  Oh, Greyson had no idea. Curtis could still taste that kiss they shared and feel her fingers running across his thigh and lower anatomy.

  She wasn’t the only one checking someone out. He’d done it too.

  Now it was time to come clean with the man he called brother.

  “I just feel bad.”

  “Why?”

  “If anything happened to Emma, would you be checking women out five days later?”

  “Not in a million years.”

  “See?”

  “BUT,” Greyson began, “Emma is my soul mate. Brynn wasn’t yours. We all saw that. You screwed up and got married while you were drunk, Curtis. You were okay as a couple, but eventually, it would have hit the skids.”

  “How do you know?”

  “She loved her job more. Maybe she cheated because it would be a clean break. Once you found out, or got the papers for divorce, you’d hate her. She’d be free to move on, no strings attached.”

  He never thought about that.

  “Maybe this was a gift. She cut you free, but the killer took her life before you could really get angry. She was done, son. You just didn't see it yet. Now guilt moved in first, and it’s not making room for the anger.”

  “I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s life, Grey. I’m scared shitless that I’ll be a caveman, and that will chase every woman away.”

  Greyson sat in the reading chair in his room. “Son, if it’s the right woman, she’ll run toward you--not away. Take the caveman out of the equation.”

  He listened to the man he called family.

  “Look at all the things I screwed up with Emma, and she didn't push me away, cheat on me, or file for divorce. She held me closer. There’s a woman out there for you, but you have to be yourself. If you’re emulating me, you’re going to make a mess.”

  “I don’t know who I am, but I’m not trying to be like you. I just want to have someone to cherish who I can protect. I want a woman who loves me, and won’t mind if I get a little territorial.”

  “That sounds like me.”

  “No, you get a lot territorial. You’re like a pit bull with rabies, in a yard full of less aggressive dogs, while in heat.”

  Croft laughed at that picture. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

  “Yes, I want what you have, but every man does. I just can’t be calm and laid back like Paris or Steele. I’m more like you than them.”

  “Then here’s what you need to do. First, figure out if you’re willing to stand by who you are, and then tell any woman you meet that this is the man you have to be. If they bolt, let them go--don’t chase--because they weren’t meant to be by your side. If they stick…marry them, just not while you’re three days to the wind on tequila. That never ends well. That worm in the bottle committed suicide.”

  Curtis laughed. “I see your point. Now one more question?”

  “Sure.”

  “What’s in the box?”

  Greyson crossed the room and picked up the jeweler’s box that had just arrived. “It’s a necklace for Emma.”

  He popped it open.

  Curtis laughed the second he saw it. “You have one hell of a brass set. It was ballsy to give her the handcuffs, and that ‘C’, but that is…”

  “It clearly states our relationship. That’s who I am,” he stated. “When you can give your woman something like that, then you know she loves all the dark corners of your life. This, my friend, is love.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, it is.”

  Greyson heard the doorbell.

  “It has to be the captain. I’ll see you down there.”

  When he went to leave, Curtis stopped him. “Thank you for adopting me and giving me a chance at surviving this mess.”

  He hugged the younger man. “Curtis, you deserve a
ll this. I’m just signing my name on a piece of paper.”

  “You’re giving me a mother and father, and that’s priceless. I love you both. All those things I said to you in anger were horrible, and I probably don’t deserve this. You’re a better man, Grey. I want to be like you--not because of the babes-- but because of the way you live your life.”

  Greyson was touched.

  He set the man free. “You’re in charge of the house tonight. Keep your grandparents in line, and don’t let Reggie redecorate. This is Emma’s bird house. If I come home and my babe bird has her feathers ruffled, I won’t get to swing by her nest later.”

  Curtis was amused. “Can I be there when you tell your mother that I’m her new grandson?”

  Croft roared with laughter. “Hell yes, you can. I’m going to let Emma tell her. It’s poetic justice and funny as hell. She’s getting exactly what she asked for in life.”

  That it was.

  As he walked away, Curtis felt better. He didn't have a woman, and his life was in shambles, but at least he had family, and that’s all that mattered.

  At least to him.

  Downstairs, Greyson waited for Magda to escort the man in. He wanted to meet with him in his office before they headed out. He needed to discuss the little ‘gift’ Emma had picked out for the captain.

  Honestly, he wanted to do this alone so they could talk. Hopefully, Chris’s ego wouldn’t get in the way. Greyson would hate to wait until the man went to work one day before they broke into his apartment and moved all his things without him knowing.

  Although…that would be funny. He put that on the back burner, just in case.

  “Hey, Greyson, this place is ridiculous,” Chris Ford said, walking into the office decked out in his tux. “How do you stay grounded living here?”

  “Emma. She’s my anchor in this chaos.”

  He stared out the patio doors at the pool. It was being filled and was huge. “That’s bigger than my place.”

  “My girl likes to swim, and when you have a woman who likes something, you make sure she has it to be happy. That’s the first law of marriage.”