Dead Ringer

by Mary Burton

  Ayden downed the last of his seltzer and lime and set it down on the bar. He checked his watch. He’d been there twenty minutes. Another ten and he could excuse himself, knowing he had covered his political bases.

  These were the times he missed his wife the most. Julie had loved people and she’d loved to talk. She’d never met a stranger. She’d have been in her element in an event like this. A pang of loneliness had his temper rising.

  ‘You look like you just swallowed glass.’ The familiar feminine voice had him turning and, despite his foul mood, smiling.

  ‘Nicole Piper,’ he said.

  She was wearing a loose peasant top that hugged her round belly and covered the top of faded jeans. Her dark hair curled into soft waves and framed her delicately round face. She wore only a hint of makeup, but it was enough to accentuate her eyes and her full lips. Damn, but he was glad to see her.

  ‘Detective Ayden.’

  The title reminded him that he was at least a decade older than she was. ‘David.’

  Color rose in her cheeks. ‘David. So are you here to celebrate the big opening?’

  He was glad now that he’d come. ‘It’s a big day for Zack and Lindsay. I wouldn’t have made the time for anyone else.’

  Her gaze softened as if she understood. ‘This place is all she’s talked about for weeks.’

  ‘Zack has done his share of talking about it as well.’ David wanted to say something clever to her – something to make her laugh. ‘Take any good pictures?’ He groaned inwardly at the lame question.

  Nicole glanced down at her camera. ‘I did take a great one of Zack and Lindsay.’ She switched the display to VIEW and flipped through several pictures before she found the one she liked. She leaned toward him and turned the screen so he could see it. This close he could smell her perfume. Soft. Delicate. And yet she was one of the strongest people he knew.

  He gave himself a mental shake and stared at the picture. Immediately, he was impressed. It was a great shot. Not your typical grinning faces. Instead, Lindsay was smiling at someone off camera and Zack was staring at her as if she meant the world to him. In one shot, Nicole had captured the essence of their relationship.

  ‘You’re a very talented photographer.’

  Color rose in her cheeks. ‘Thanks.’

  Since Julie’s death he’d not given much thought to finding someone else. Friends had arranged a few blind dates, but no one had sparked his interest like Nicole. She was an artist. Ten or twelve years his junior. And very pregnant. She’d have been the last person he or anyone else would have chosen for himself. And yet it was all he could do not to grin like a fool. His son Caleb had been right. He liked her.

  Before he could come up with something else to say, Dana came up to them. He resented the intrusion and then felt foolish. Nicole wasn’t his.

  Dana shook his hand. Her grip was firm. Despite her smile, her gaze was cold and accessing. ‘Sergeant Ayden. Enjoying the party?’

  He raised his glass to his lips and then remembered the glass was empty. ‘It’s great.’

  ‘I’m glad you’re having a good time.’ Dana turned her attention to Nicole.

  He sensed a shift in Dana’s energy. Accessing turned to something akin to hunger. Hadn’t Nicole said the woman gave her the creeps?

  ‘Nicole, you look wonderful,’ Dana said.

  Nicole smiled, but he saw the tension behind her eyes. ‘Thank you.’

  David shifted his stance so that he was a fraction closer to Nicole. ‘You should be very proud of yourself, Ms Miller. This is a great project.’

  Dana beamed. ‘I’m very proud of it.’

  Small talk was bullshit as far as he was concerned. But somewhere deep in his memory he heard Julie say, Play nice. Someone across the room called Dana’s name. She nodded, squeezed Nicole’s hand, and then said her good-byes.

  Nicole’s stance relaxed when she left.

  ‘What’s going on?’ David said. No sense mincing words. Tension radiated between the two women.

  Nicole looked up at him. He expected her to deny any trouble. Instead, she was silent for a moment. ‘She hasn’t really done anything that should worry me.’

  ‘But …’

  She dropped her voice a notch and leaned into him like Julie used to when they were at parties. ‘It’s just that it’s something about the way she looks at me. The way she always mentions the baby.’

  His gaze flickered to her stomach. ‘You are very pregnant.’

  Her hands trembled a little as she fiddled with a button on her camera. ‘Yeah, but it just feels like more than that.’

  He didn’t like seeing the worry in her eyes. ‘She made any threats?’

  ‘None.’ She smiled almost apologetically. ‘I think the hormones are just making me a little nuts.’

  David smiled but his concern didn’t ease. The brain had a way of processing threats on an unconscious level. People called it intuition or a sixth sense.

  Someone like Dana wouldn’t make a threat outright. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t planning something.

  He dug his card and a pen from his breast pocket. He scrawled his cell number on the card. ‘This is my private number. I want you to call me if you even get a whiff of trouble from her.’

  She accepted the card. ‘I didn’t mean for you to take up my cause. I can handle Dana.’

  ‘Why go it alone if you don’t have to? Everyone can use a wingman from time to time.’

  She seemed relieved as she flicked the edge of his card with her fingertip. ‘Thanks.’

  Lindsay came over to them and wrapped her arm around Nicole. ‘David, can I steal Nicole from you for a minute? I need a couple of shots taken.’

  David didn’t want to see Nicole go. For the first time since he’d arrived he was actually enjoying himself. ‘Sure.’

  Nicole smiled up at him. ‘Thanks. I enjoyed seeing you again.’

  ‘Me too.’

  He watched her walk away. The weight of the baby made her lumber only slightly. She moved with a grace and confidence he found very appealing. Life had thrown her a ton of crap but she was rising above it.

  He glanced across the room at Dana. The woman’s gaze was locked on Nicole as Nicole raised her camera toward a group of city dignitaries. There was no denying that the woman had something on her mind. And he’d bet the farm it wasn’t good.

  He resolved then to check into Dana Miller’s past and to keep an eye on her.

  He didn’t question his need to protect Nicole. He simply would.

  Jacob’s gut twisted into a knot the instant he saw Kendall Shaw. As always, she looked sleek, sophisticated, and in command of the situation. She wore a pale blue dress that hugged her full breasts, narrow waist, and delicately curved hips. Her spiked heels conjured erotic thoughts well worth savoring.

  He spent the first ten minutes at the Women’s Center pretending to listen and care about the conversations buzzing around him. He managed to sling good-natured bullshit of his own, but his thoughts remained on Kendall.

  ‘That rose has got nasty thorns.’ The gruff comment, loud enough for only Jacob to hear, had him turning.

  The man standing in front of him was in his late forties. Jim Mundey was with the city of Richmond police. They served different jurisdictions but often worked together on cases that crossed city and county lines. Jim was medium height, wore wire-rimmed glasses, and had thick graying hair and a paunch that strained the seams of his dress uniform.

  Jacob sipped his water, knowing Jim referred to Kendall. ‘I have no doubt.’

  ‘But she is fun to look at. Damn. Those legs are to die for.’

  ‘Be careful; this might get back to your wife.’

  ‘A man might not be able to go into the bakery but he can still smell the bread.’ Jim sipped an iced soda. ‘So you gonna make a play for her?’

  ‘I’d rather take a beating in the ring.’

  Jim laughed. ‘It might be worth a black eye to tap that.’

&nb
sp; They’d talked like this about women before. But knowing the woman was Kendall bothered Jacob this time. ‘Sure.’

  ‘She had a bit of excitement at her house the other night. The queen dropped a dime on her neighbor.’

  He kept his expression blank but his senses went on alert. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Seems her new neighbor was taking out his trash as she arrived home around midnight. He got too close and she called nine-one-one.’

  Jacob frowned. ‘Was he trouble?’

  ‘Naw. We checked his license. He’d just moved into the house and was tossing packing boxes.’

  Kendall wasn’t a faint heart and it wasn’t like her to get spooked so easily. She must have been paying attention to him when he’d told her the victims looked like her. Good.

  ‘You remember his name?’

  ‘Markham, I think.’

  ‘Do me a favor,’ Jacob said. ‘Run a thorough check on the guy. Couldn’t hurt.’

  Jim shrugged. ‘Yeah, sure.’

  The two talked for a few more minutes about department crap and then Jim moved back toward the food table.

  Jacob stayed his ground, turning his attention back to Kendall. When the group she was chatting with moved away and she was alone, he strode toward her. He came up behind her, savoring the energy that radiated from her. ‘Break any stories today, Kendall?’

  She turned at the sound of his voice. Even in her three-inch heels she had to look up at him. Her grin was slow and lazy. ‘Catch any bad guys today, Detective?’

  ‘The day is young.’ This close he could see that under expertly applied makeup there were dark circles under her eyes. She hadn’t been sleeping well.

  ‘When are you gonna ID the second murder victim?’

  ‘Got to notify next of kin first.’ Plus, the less information circulating now, the better.

  ‘Any more leads?’

  He sipped his ice water, unhappy with the turn of the conversation. ‘It’s always business with you.’

  ‘What else is there?’

  Jacob could think of several things as his gaze flickered very briefly to her breasts. Hell, if she gave the nod, he’d take her to bed in an instant. Just the thought was making him hard.

  ‘My cameraman is here. Let me interview you about the murders.’

  ‘Nope.’ He liked sparring with her. Her eyes sparked when she was pissed.

  ‘Why not? We can have tape rolling in thirty seconds. You can just share a few thoughts, theories.’

  He sipped his water. ‘No.’

  ‘You could challenge the killer. Try to lure him out.’

  ‘That kind of stunt could just get another woman killed. Is that what you’re looking for?’

  She frowned, clearly offended. ‘No. Why would you say that?’

  He shrugged. ‘You’re jonesing for a headline.’

  She faced him head-on. ‘I care about what happened to those women.’

  A smile played on his lips. ‘Yeah, right.’

  From behind the anger, genuine hurt flickered. ‘You don’t know anything about my motives.’

  ‘I’ve watched you in action before. You take stupid chances.’

  Her face tightened. ‘At least I don’t hesitate to do my job.’

  Her barb hit its mark. Last summer when he’d seen the Guardian serial killer holding a gun to Nicole’s head, he’d hesitated, unable to fire. Zack hadn’t and had killed the Guardian with one shot. But how had she known? Zack or Lindsay wouldn’t have talked.

  He didn’t always like Kendall, but he respected the fact she wasn’t afraid to take a swing when backed into a corner. ‘The jugular is your favorite spot, isn’t it?’

  Some of the wind left her sails. ‘It’s what I do best.’

  Kendall took a step back and her gaze scanned the room. He felt her mentally disengage, as if he’d been dismissed, even before Nicole Piper approached them.

  ‘Hey, Nicole,’ Kendall said. ‘Everything all right?’

  Nicole’s face looked pale. ‘I’m headed out. My back is killing me. See you back at the fort.’

  Kendall’s features softened. ‘Will do.’

  When Nicole had left, Jacob couldn’t resist asking, ‘She’s your roommate?’

  ‘For the last few months.’ Ice coated the words.

  That’s how she knew about the final confrontation. ‘I wouldn’t have put you two together.’

  She shrugged a slim shoulder. ‘Wondering what’s in it for me?’

  ‘Frankly, yeah.’

  ‘I have a huge house and Nicole needed a place to land until the baby was born. End of story.’

  ‘You’re not angling to write a tell-all book about the Guardian?’ He studied the dark circles under her eyes. ‘Is writing the book what’s keeping you up at night?’

  The statement had her straightening. ‘There is no book.’

  He believed her. Had no reason to, but did. ‘So why the dark circles? They weren’t there last week.’

  She touched her cheek with her fingertips and then quickly dropped them. She tossed him a killer smile and cracked, ‘No, Detective, it’s dreams about you that are keeping me up.’

  He laughed, but the image sent a bolt of desire ricocheting through him. He’d like to keep her up at night. ‘So what has been keeping you up?’

  Her face paled. ‘Suddenly, this room is too full and the sounds are too loud for me. I’ve got what I needed, so I’m headed out.’

  He’d struck a nerve so sensitive it was driving her off. Before he could say anything else, she left his side and cut through the crowds to Lindsay. She said a quick good-bye and shrugged on her coat.

  Jacob set his drink down and followed Kendall. What the hell had he said? Outside, the cool air felt good on his hot skin. He caught up to her easily.

  ‘Where’s your car?’

  ‘I can find my own car, Detective.’

  He fell in step beside her. ‘What did I say in there?’

  High heels clicked on pavement. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘I said something that rattled you.’

  ‘I’m just bored.’

  ‘That why you took direct aim at me?’

  She sighed. ‘That was uncalled for. I’m sorry.’

  Kendall crossed the street to a small pay-as-you-go parking lot. Her car was sleek. Black. Top of the line. Very Kendall. And a far cry from the beat-up, mud-splattered SUV he drove.

  Jacob watched as she dug her keys from her purse and clicked open the lock. Her hands trembled slightly. ‘What’s keeping you up at night, Kendall?’

  ‘I told you, dreams of you.’ She laced the words with tartness.

  ‘Cut the crap. What is it?’

  She fumbled with the keys and couldn’t seem to find the right one. She stopped, sighed. ‘Dreams, okay? Bad dreams.’

  ‘About last summer?’ His voice was tense.

  She turned and met his gaze. ‘No.’ Some of the fire had left her. ‘The dreams go back to when I was a small child.’

  Oddly, he felt relief. ‘Tell me.’

  Defiance sparked in her eyes. ‘Why? Why would you care about something like that?’

  Kendall held on to her emotion and control with a white-knuckle grip. Like him. ‘Just tell me.’

  For a moment, she was silent as she searched his eyes. Trust did not come easily for her. ‘I’m in a closet. I hear a woman screaming and a baby crying. I have no idea who these people are or what’s going on. But the damn dream wakes me up almost nightly now.’

  ‘What about family? Friends of your parents? They might help.’

  ‘I’ve no one.’

  She was alone. Like the other victims. Like him.

  ‘What about a therapist? A hypnotist?’

  Kendall shook her head. ‘It’s not that serious. It’ll work itself out.’

  He glanced around to make sure no one lingered close. ‘I know a doctor. She’s not bad. Erica Christopher.’

  ‘I don’t need a doctor.
A solid eight hours of sleep will fix everything.’

  So stubborn. ‘Just remember the name.’

  ‘Right. Sure.’

  A slight breeze blew the hair back from her face. The street sounds faded. He didn’t even feel the cold.

  She stared up at him. Her lips looked soft. No doubt tasted sweet. He wanted to take her right here, right now, and fulfill the fantasies he’d harbored so long for her.

  He leaned toward her. She stood frozen, staring up at him. He wanted to kiss her. And he sensed she wanted him to. His body thrummed with desire.

  Jacob reached out to brush her hair from her shoulder. He angled his head ready to kiss her when a passing car horn honked. The noise startled her and she pulled back as far away from him as she could manage.

  ‘I’ve got to go,’ she said. ‘Do you mind?’

  The sharpness in her voice annoyed him, reminded him of a queen speaking to one of her minions. He’d been dismissed. The jab inside moments ago had stung but this rejection hurt.

  Jacob stepped back to give her a wide berth. He slid his hands into his pockets.

  Her hands still trembled. ‘Good-bye, Detective.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Kendall got into the car, started the engine, and drove off a little too fast.

  He stood in the chilly parking lot as the wind tunneled between the buildings toward him. The scent of her perfume still lingered. Jim Mundey was right. She had too many thorns.

  ‘Shit, Jacob,’ he mumbled to himself. ‘Stop wanting what you can’t have.’

  Nicole fumbled with her house keys, her fingers stiff from the cold. The porch light cast a ring of light down on her. She wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower and crawl into bed. It was only six in the evening but she was exhausted. The baby weighed heavily in her belly and her back ached. Thank God she had no evening appointments.

  Behind her in the darkness a cat screeched and a trash can tumbled over. She whirled around and peered into the darkness. There was nothing. The houses across the alley were lighted up, including the upstairs bedroom of their newest neighbor.

  Relaxing, she unlocked the back door and pushed into the house. She was greeted by the scent of sawdust. The contractor. Todd. She’d forgotten all about him. She sighed, hoping he was gone and she had the place to herself this evening.