BEFORE HE NEEDS

by Blake Pierce

  Jack started to tremble. Mackenzie recalled the violent streak Gloria said he’d had. She tensed up, ready for anything.

  “Your call, genius,” Ellington said.

  And that was all it took. Jack Springs took one huge stride forward and shoved Ellington. It was a rather hard shove but Ellington managed to keep his footing, only stumbling back the slightest bit.

  “I’m so glad you did that,” Ellington said with a sly smile. “That’s technically assault on a federal agent.” He withdrew his cuffs and showed them to Jack. “Can I just put these on you now, or do you want to make a spectacle out of it?”

  Mackenzie could see in Jack’s face that he realized he’d made an enormous mistake. He sighed and shook his head angrily.

  “Good choice,” Ellington said, stepping forward and slapping the cuffs on Jack’s thick wrists.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Mackenzie made sure that Vanessa and Jack Springs were separated as soon as they got to the precinct. Once the initial juvenile reaction of most of the male officers over Vanessa Springs passed, the Springses were quickly ushered into separate rooms. Because Jack had been the one under arrest, he was placed in an interrogation room, where Ellington and Rodriguez questioned him.

  Mackenzie, meanwhile, took Vanessa Springs to the tiny office she had been borrowing since arriving in Miami yesterday. She offered Vanessa a coffee and a creaking rollaway chair that had been collecting dust in the corner, and then sat down face-to-face with her.

  “I’m going to assume you know why we separated you and your husband,” Mackenzie said.

  “So we’d answer the same questions and you could compare our answers to see if we’re lying or not,” Vanessa said. She was trying her best to seem defiant but it was clear that she was frightened and out of her element.

  “That’s right,” Mackenzie said. “So the best thing to do is to tell the truth. And whether you realize it or not, your husband’s reaction to the mere name of the Kurtzes tells me enough to know that there’s something worth looking into.”

  Vanessa took a moment to compose herself, biting at her lip and blinking rapidly in order to stave off tears. “He’s so damned stupid,” she said. “Whenever he’s questioned or threatened in any way, he loses his temper. He’s like a little boy.”

  “Okay, so let’s take him out of the equation for right now,” Mackenzie said. She knew that Vanessa’s disappointment in her husband might make this conversation much easier. “Tell me about the Kurtzes. Did you first meet them through DCM?”

  “You know,” she said, a little embarrassed, “no one is supposed to know who is a member. The privacy aspect was one of the reasons we decided to join.”

  “I know. But we spoke to Gloria Benitez this morning. When she heard that there were three murdered couples, she was very helpful. She only gave us names, though. She did not go into detail. And it tore her up to give us the information she did give us.”

  Vanessa nodded and said, “Yes, we met them through DCM.”

  “Did they approach you or did you approach them?”

  “We told Gloria what we wanted…the sort of couple we were looking for. She hooked us up with them.”

  “Do you know why?”

  Vanessa looked at the floor, clearly starting to get embarrassed. “We asked for a couple that was attractive and of modest means. The wife…she was gorgeous. But she was also petite. And I…that appealed to me. I like to be in control in the bedroom. And Jack doesn’t. So we thought a smaller pretty woman would…I don’t know. Spice things up.”

  “And what about Josh Kurtz?”

  “We didn’t even want him. But they were a couple deal. He came as part of the package, you know? And when they got to our house and we were in the bedroom, he got adventurous. He started messing with me and I let him. Part of the game and all. It was nice, I guess. But Jack wasn’t prepared for seeing it. He got mad. And…ah shit. I’m ashamed of all of this…”

  “It’s okay,” Mackenzie said. “You can skip the gory details. I just need to know of any altercations.”

  “Well, they started fighting and…well, it turned me on. So I sort of pinned Julie down. I thought she liked it. She didn’t fight much. But I got carried away…fed on by the way Jack was behaving…”

  “Did anyone get hurt?” Mackenzie asked.

  “No, not really. There was one punch thrown and then they just sort of wrestled. Once Jack let Josh go, the Kurtzes left. They lodged a complaint with DCM and Gloria kicked us out.”

  “Was that the first couple you guys had ever contacted through DCM?”

  “No. There were two others. But both of those times went smoothly.”

  “I guess I still don’t understand why Jack got so upset about mentioning them,” Mackenzie said. “He acted like there was some great drama with them.”

  “There was afterwards,” she said. “Jack wouldn’t shut up about Julie. He was infatuated with her and had no problem letting me know it. It became such an issue that we considered the idea of an open marriage. But in the end we decided against it. So you take the fact that some marriage troubles stemmed from the Kurtzes and then the fact that they ratted Jack out to Gloria, and then throw Jack’s sordid temper into it all…”

  “He took it personally,” Mackenzie said.

  “Yeah, basically.”

  Mackenzie thought about this for a moment before going on.

  Based on this, Jack Springs is certainly worthy of closer speculation, she thought. But I wonder if he could kill these people without Vanessa knowing.

  She wondered how Ellington was doing with his questioning of Jack.

  “Vanessa, what was your impression of the Kurtzes before things got out of hand?”

  “They were really sweet,” she said. “They were one of those couples that are sickeningly happy when they were with one another. You could tell they really loved each other. We had dinner before we went to the bedroom. I was sort of shocked that they were involved in swingers’ clubs. But Jack and I are a perfect example of the whole different strokes for different folks thing, you know?”

  “You said the Kurtzes were involved in swingers’ clubs?” Mackenzie asked. “As in more than one?”

  “Yeah. They mentioned this other one they used to be a part of before DCM. I think it was a little sketchy for them, though.”

  “Do you remember the name of it?”

  “Tidal Hills,” Vanessa said with a low tone to her voice. “Jack and I had heard of it before, and never in a good light.”

  “Is that here in Miami?”

  “Yeah. It’s on some piece of private land out near Biscayne Bay. It markets itself very quietly as a spiritual retreat. But everyone in the swinging community knows what it really is.”

  “And it has a bad reputation?” Mackenzie asked.

  “Yeah. Basically anyone can get in. And at the risk of sounding snobby, there’s slim pickings. With DCM, it’s more private so you know the people are well groomed, respectable, and good-looking.”

  Honey, that goes way beyond snobby…especially for a woman like you that has obviously had a major boob job.

  “Have you and Jack ever participated with another swinging club?”

  “There are sporadic events here and there,” she said. “We’ve gone to a few of those. We leave for one tomorrow, actually. It’s a private cruise. But no, no other clubs.”

  “Was there anything else about the Kurtzes you think I should know?”

  “Nothing I can think of.”

  “What about the Sterlings and Carlsons? Did you know them?”

  “No. I do remember almost inquiring about the Sterlings, though. They seemed very interesting to us. But in the end, we went with the Kurtzes.”

  Mackenzie was nearing the end of her questions, which was just as well. A knock on her makeshift office’s door broke her attention. She turned and saw Ellington standing there. He looked relieved and satisfied.

  “You good here?” he asked. “Need anythi
ng?”

  Mackenzie looked at Vanessa and nodded. “Anything you want to add?”

  Vanessa shook her head. “Sorry Jack came after you,” she said, looking at Ellington. “Like I was telling your partner here…he can be a dick sometimes.”

  “No worries,” Ellington said. “He was cooperative, believe it or not. He’s filling out some forms right now, but you’re free to go as soon as he’s done.”

  Vanessa Springs gave them a polite little nod and then left the office. Dagney stepped in behind Ellington and led Vanessa to the front of the building. When they were gone, Ellington stepped into the small office and looked around.

  “Nice digs,” he said.

  “Funny. What did you get out of the charming Mr. Springs?”

  “Other than jealousy and the feeling that I need to up my workout routine? A decent bit. He admitted to getting violent with Josh Kurtz when the couples were together. He also admitted to once having a slight obsession with Julie Kurtz. But other than that, nothing. He gave alibis for the suspected dates of the murders and they all checked out.”

  “Sounds like they were telling the same story, then,” Mackenzie said.

  “I also think I know another spot for us to check for leads,” Ellington said.

  “Might it happen to be out on Biscayne Bay?”

  “It would.”

  Mackenzie checked her watch. “It’s barely seven,” she said. “Want to ride out that way to see what we can find?”

  “Sounds like a plan. And if we can grab some dinner along the way, maybe we can even call it a date.”

  She grinned at him as she got up. “We’re not dating,” she said. “We’re only sleeping together.”

  “Ah, then it seems like we’re on just the right case.”

  She cringed as they headed out of the office. “That’s in terrible taste, Ellington.”

  He shrugged and when she passed by him, she ignored the fierce desire that passed through her, begging her to kiss him.

  She considered it a victory that she was able to fight the urge off. Now that they were getting leads and she was feeling active and productive, the case was at the forefront of her mind.

  They had momentum on her side now. And as far as she was concerned, the thrill of an unfolding case was an even better sensation than great sex.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The closer they got to Biscayne Bay, the more of the Miami skyline Mackenzie was able to see. Better yet, Ellington had volunteered to drive, allowing her to not only eat her drive-thru cheeseburger and fries unhindered, but to marvel at the looming sunset over Miami.

  “Sort of weird, isn’t it?” Ellington said. “You always hear about things like swingers’ clubs but always assume they’re just this underground thing. But now, just a few hours into this, it’s just another day.”

  “You’re not being affected by the seedy underbelly of an otherwise beautiful city, are you?”

  “Beautiful?” Ellington said. “Hardly. This is the home of the Dolphins.”

  “A sports reference? Really?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve got to keep you thinking about how macho I am if I plan to get you back into bed.”

  She rolled her eyes at him, but the idea of being back in bed with him had kept popping up in her head all day, too. It was essentially a late-twenties version of crushing on someone in middle school. It made her uneasy but, at the same time, it excited her. It was just a shame that they had finally crossed this line while she was in the middle of a particularly gruesome case.

  They arrived at Biscayne Bay just as the setting sun started to cast golden hues on the tops of the buildings and the caps of the waves pulsing in the sea. From the edge of the bay, it was incredibly beautiful.

  They arrived at the entrance of Tidal Hills several minutes later. The sign in front of the entrance didn’t even have the name of the place on it. All the sign said was: A private resort.

  “Looks appropriately shady,” Mackenzie said.

  Ellington drove closer to the building, up a small road that emptied into a parking lot that was hidden by a grove of palm trees and a small privacy fence. When he parked, Mackenzie noticed that from behind the palms and the privacy fence, the main road that coasted along the bay could not be seen.

  There were a few other cars in the lot, but no person in sight. They got out of the car together and walked to the building behind them. The place was built to resemble a beach house, highlighted along the porch with weathered beams that looked like driftwood. When they walked up the stairs and to the elaborate porch, Mackenzie noted the sign hanging in the single glass pane at the top of the double doors. It read: This is a PRIVATE resort. If you belong here, you know it. And if you don’t, kindly respect our privacy.

  “Not even any contact information,” Ellington pointed out.

  Almost exactly like DCM, Mackenzie thought.

  She knocked on the door and stepped back so she could see through the glass pane along the top of the door. When no one had answered twenty seconds later, she knocked again. This time, someone showed up to the window almost immediately. An irritated-looking man peered through the glass at them. He then pointed to the sign in the glass, as if they had maybe just missed it.

  In response, Mackenzie nodded and then showed her badge. She pressed it to the glass for emphasis. When she removed it, she saw the look of confusion on the man’s face. He stepped back, opened the door, and stepped out onto the porch to meet them. He closed the door behind him and stood in front of it, making it clear that they would not be invited inside.

  He was in his late forties, graying hair and a beard outlining his face. He looked rather gaunt, almost too skinny.

  “Can I help you?” he asked, skeptically looking at Mackenzie’s ID as she returned it to the inner pocket of her jacket.

  “Yes, we were hoping to speak with the individual that operates and maintains a club known as Tidal Hills,” Mackenzie said.

  “Well, that would be Samuel,” the man said. “And Tidal Hills is no club.”

  “Is Samuel here?” Mackenzie asked, ignoring the man’s last barb.

  “He is, but he is quite busy. He is meditating and preparing for an event tonight.”

  “We need to speak with him,” Mackenzie said.

  “I’m afraid I can’t allow you in while he’s in preparations.”

  “Fine,” Mackenzie said. “Have him come out here to us then. I’ll give you three minutes. And if he’s not out here, we’re coming in to speak with him.”

  The man nodded quickly, reaching back for the door handle. He still looked irritated but he also looked very worried. He opened the door and returned inside very quickly. Mackenzie noted that in his haste, he had not locked the door back behind him. She chose to stay outside, though, not wanting to antagonize a potential source without just cause.

  “That guy looked sick,” Ellington said.

  “Thin as a rail,” Mackenzie agreed.

  “Isolated, quiet, and not seen from the road,” Ellington said. “Seems more like a cult than a club, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, it has that vibe.”

  They stood and waited for another minute until the rail-thin man returned. He opened the door and peered out at them. “Samuel has invited you inside. Please come in.”

  He opened the door for them and they stepped inside. They entered a darkened room that resembled a church sanctuary, only without the pews and religious symbols. The thin man led them through this room, toward a door in the back. He turned to them with an uncertain smile and said, “This is a privilege, believe me. It is not often that Samuel invites non-members into his private space.”

  Wow, this is starting to seem more and more like a cult, Mackenzie thought. She and Ellington shared a look that conveyed can you believe this? Ellington shook his head, hiding an uneasy smile.

  The thin man opened the door in the back and led them into a small hallway. The hallway contained six doors, all of which were opened except one. Th
is was at the far end of the hallway—the exact door the thin man was leading them toward.

  When they reached the door, the man knocked and again gave them an excited sort of smile. He then opened it and revealed a bare room with only a carpet for decoration. Three candles burned in the back of the room, illuminating the figure of a man that sat in the center of the rug.

  “Please,” the man said. “Come inside, visitors.”

  Mackenzie walked into the room, overwhelmed by two things: a creepy sensation that washed over her like a wave, and the fact that the man on the rug was naked except for a very tight pair of silk boxer briefs. The man—Samuel, if she was guessing correctly—looked to be in his fifties. Like the thin man, he also looked nearly malnourished…which was odd, given the defined abs and toned muscles in his arms and legs. He was sitting on the rug with his legs crossed and his back slightly arched.

  When the thin man closed the door behind him and took his leave, the man got to his knees and then into a standing position. He did not seem to be bothered by his lack of attire.

  “Nice to meet you both,” he said. “I am Samuel, the guru of Tidal Hills.”

  “We’re Agents White and Ellington with the FBI,” Mackenzie said. “And I’ll admit my confusion…what do you mean by guru?”

  “I do my very best to lead my friends and members to peace through enlightenment and the proper way to embrace pleasure.”

  “Pleasure,” Ellington said. “You mean sexual acts?”

  “Yes. And any other pleasures of the flesh. Whereas most religions teach their followers that sex is to be a thing of shame and guilt, we here at Tidal Hills embrace it. We believe the act of sex and the intimacy derived from it can lead humans to an enlightened state.”

  “With all due respect,” Mackenzie said, “we’ve heard that there are people that use Tidal Hills as a makeshift swingers’ club.”

  Samuel frowned at the insinuation but nodded. “Yes, I could see how some might think such a thing. In my early days, that’s how it got started. This was a place for people to come explore their sexuality, to expand their appetites. And somehow that turned into married couples wanting to engage with other married couples. It became the trend here and we embraced it.”