“And you were able to turn that into a career.”
“I was lucky.”
“No, don’t sell yourself short. You worked hard to get where you are.”
Surprise flittered across her face at the unexpected compliment.
“Maybe too hard. Dean mentioned Meg has been trying to get you to slow down.”
“I’m not the only one to be consumed by work. Your job demands all your attention and there’s no off switch at the end of the day.”
He nodded, conceding her point. He’d become antsy himself of late. Thankfully he had some time off coming to him. He only needed a few days uninterrupted to feel as though he’d been gone three weeks.
She smiled, her gaze soft and her body relaxed.
“Thank you for letting me stay. I know I’m not the easiest to get along with and you’ll probably end up regretting the invite. But I appreciate it. Even if it’s your job or duty.”
He was on his feet in seconds and dropped to his knees in front of her. He wrapped his hands around her ankles. Just because he needed that contact with her. As much as he’d told himself to stay away and she wasn’t the one for him, his heart and body seemed to deny his claim.
“This isn’t about duty. Hell, it’s not even because Dean called me and asked if I’d go see you. This is because you need help and I can give that to you. It doesn’t hurt that you’re a friend.”
She stared at him curiously, her eyebrows pinched. “Is that what we are? Friends?”
His stomach lurched and a flush heated his skin.
“You don’t think so?”
“No…yes. I mean I guess I never really thought about it like that before. You’ve always been Dean’s partner or Dean’s and Meg’s friend. I hadn’t considered we were friends. More rather acquaintances.” She swallowed hard and a look came into her eyes that appeared haunted as she stumbled over her words.
He guessed that was true. Their first meeting had been intense and electrically charged. They’d almost made out before knowing who the other was and then once he’d known he’d retreated and looked for an escape route.
He took pity on her.
“Well how about now. Can we be friends?”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. “I’d like that.”
He squeezed her ankles. “Good. I promise nothing is going to happen to you.”
“I know. I’ve never felt more protected.”
And he’d never felt more off centre.
Riley had a way of delving through the layers of humour and self-doubt to the man beneath afraid to let go. He wanted to throw all his fears away and take a chance but he wasn’t ready. His self-preservation still had a firm hold. And it was telling him Riley O’Neill was bad news.
“What about you? It’s hard to believe the great Nick Doyle would be without female company for so long.”
Like a knife to the heart. It only served to remind him not to get too close. To retain that professional distance.
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “Had other things on my mind.” Like you. He bit back the words. Having her believe he was a serial dater had meant to put distance between them. The only problem was it had worked too well and he suddenly hated being so determined to keep her away. Especially now when he was seeing more than the polished woman she presented to the world. He was seeing straight to her heart.
Chapter 12
“What’s wrong?” Riley asked as she entered the kitchen. It was early. Way too early in her opinion. She’d woken when Nick’s phone rang, followed by the now familiar sounds of him navigating the dark and the hiss of the coffee maker.
Nick jerked around and glared at her. “Jesus lady don’t ever sneak up on a man with a gun again you hear me?”
Riley’s gaze locked onto his right hand where it rested on the butt of his gun which sat in the black leather belt holster. “Sorry.”
He ran a weary hand over his tired face. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
Leaning over, he turned the light above the stove top on, the dull glow lit up the semi-dark room without blinding them and Riley blinked as her gaze found Nick’s naked chest, the shirt hanging open allowing her a lip-licking view of a fit chest with a light dusting of black hair which disappeared beneath the waistband of his trousers. The first time she had seen him bare-chested had been on the boat Megan and Dean had hired and he’d worn nothing but swim trunks, Riley had been too stunned and flustered to fully appreciate.
Now wide awake without the help of caffeine, Riley studied the fine male specimen before her. This was the first time in the week she’d been living with him that she’d seen an unobstructed view. And what a view he was. He was in perfect physical shape, his muscles defined but not bulky, his body hard and unrelenting—a work of perfection that the slightest action caused his body to ripple like a pool of calm water does after a disturbance. Riley suddenly felt the need to fan herself. What was wrong with her? It’s the middle of winter for heaven’s sake.
“Stop that,” Nick warned as he poured water into three cups.
Riley moved her gaze from Nick’s chest to his deep blue eyes and shivered, the action having nothing to do with temperature but the look in Nick’s eyes. She wasn’t sure what it was but her body certainly recognised it. “Stop what?” she asked innocently.
“Stop looking at me a starving person does a leg of lamb, if you don’t I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
Riley blushed at having been caught and she cleared her throat to cover her embarrassment. Wait, what did he mean he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions? Her foolish heart beat faster as one action swiftly came to mind. Before she had a chance to question him, a brisk knock sounded and seeing Nick was busy, moved to answer it, stepping aside to allow James Hawke to enter.
“Riley.” He noted her presence before making a beeline to the caffeine. He was in his cop mode. At the moment he wasn’t a friend but a detective on the case. ‘Cop Mode’ was something she had discovered in her youth, having often needed to gauge the receptiveness of her father, whether or not he would welcome her with open arms or send her packing back to her room. It had come in handy and she was happy to see things hadn’t changed. Riley followed James.
“What are you doing here, James at four thirty in the morning? What is going on?”
James and Nick shared a look.
“No, you don’t. Don’t you dare do that.” She looked from one to the other, demanding answers.
Nick finally relented. “There’s been another murder, Ri.”
He handed James a travel mug, filled with steaming hot coffee, leaving Riley’s on the bench for later after they left.
“Another murder?” Her voice quaked.
Both men’s faces answered her question.
“Oh, God.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, a mixture of sadness and fear. Sadness that another woman was dead and that they hadn’t been unable to prevent it and fear knowing that only another woman’s death stood between her own.
A cool chill descended the length of her spine. She hadn’t been this frightened in forever. Even when she thought her ex might kill her.
He was inside her head. She hated it. How he was dictating her life, just like before…
“Now don’t you start fretting,” Nick warned as he eased his arms around her and drew her into his comforting embrace. She could stay in his arms forever without a single care. Feeling safe and cherished. “Nothing is going to happen to you I promise and we will get this guy. None of this was your fault and there was nothing you could’ve done to stop it so don’t feel guilty and if you want to blame someone blame it on the man who deserves it—the killer.”
Hearing every other word, her head bobbed up and down.
“Remember, you’re safe here…safe with me.”
She hated having to rely on someone else. She was usually so self-reliant. It was like a point of honour with her.
He stared down
at her. Her heart thumped and her mouth went dry. Why did she have to have such a response to him when she couldn’t get a smidge of attraction from him?
Riley found she liked him exerting control, taking charge. He didn’t dominate or order her about but still took action. She was too used to being the one arranging everything. It was nice to have someone take care of her for a change.
Especially now, when fear was slowly paralysing her.
She held on tightly to Nick, never wanting to let him go.
Chapter 13
Half an hour after leaving Riley, he and James arrived on the scene. It had taken a good five minutes to calm Riley down and after forcing her to down two fingers of Scotch, Nick had tucked her back into bed, kissing her forehead as he left. It had taken every single bit of effort to walk out that door and away from the beckoning picture of Riley in bed.
The scene in front of him however, was not as lovely. In fact, it was the complete opposite. The metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils, the smell of death lingered in the air, the sickening particles attaching to everything and everybody and only the removal of a layer of skin and the tossing of clothes would ever be rid of the foul stench.
Nick stared down at the body. The poor woman lay in a pool of blood, her naked torso marred with the same word etched into her stomach.
He would bet his pension that the man they were after had been hurt—possibly even betrayed by a woman. But he wasn’t killing this woman over and over that was certain by his choices of victims. So why them? If not posing a physical resemblance what drew the killer to these women?
“Mallory Duncan is definitely our third victim.” James reviewed his notes. “Her apartment is just as that SOB described and there’s no mistaking his work.”
“No, no chance of that. Damn it! We have to find the next victim before he has a chance to strike.”
“Let me guess you’re about to lean heavily on Harvey. I’ll tell you he doesn’t work well under pressure and you breathing down his back won’t make him draw faster,” James commented.
“That sketch is our only chance of getting ahead of this guy. We can’t exactly go on the five o’clock news and tell every woman that there is a killer out there just waiting to pick them off.”
“Agreed, but these things take time.”
The knot in his stomach tightened. “We don’t have time.”
“You mean Riley doesn’t. Not now when there’s only one precious life between her and the killer.”
“I’ll keep Riley safe,” Nick ground out between locked jaws.
“No one is doubting that, but you’re too close to this case.” James held up his hands forestalling an explosive objection. “I’m not going to tell you to remove yourself because God knows nothing will make you do that and I can’t preach to you about stepping back when I’ve been guilty in the past for being too involved but watch yourself, Nick. We’ve all got a job to do and we’re all working hard to achieve that.”
Nick nodded curtly. He understood but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to light a fire under sketch artist’s arse. They’ve been in the dark too long with little or no leads except for the novel Riley gave them. All they knew about their killer was that he was extremely good at what he does and has no plans on stopping any time soon. Even if he managed to kill Riley—the idea causing a sharp pain in Nick’s heart—he wouldn’t stop. It was fun for him, a high which could only be achieved after he took someone’s life. Three women so far, none deserved it and if there was one thing Nick hated above all else was women getting hurt and this bastard was raping and killing them.
Just you wait, you bastard. Your day will come.
***
The thick acrid scent of coffee reminded Nick of Riley. Well, to be honest almost everything reminded him of the fiery redhead but coffee above all else. He doubted if they’d be a time where the taste or smell of freshly roasted coffee beans didn’t bring her image to the foremost part of his brain.
He closed the glass door to La Café, the coffee shop Mallory Duncan frequented behind him. James had volunteered to stay at the crime scene to finish up, which Nick was more than happy to allow. The scene would forever be burned in the back of his mind. It was the kind of thing one never forgot and he’d seen his fair share of gruesome scenes. Nick held still as a shudder tingled at the base of his spine as he recalled the blood—there was just so much of it pooled around her pale body, a red river soaking into the floor.
Unbidden the image changed and instead of Mallory Duncan, Riley laid on the floor, blood almost the same shade of her hair staining the carpet. A surge of anger travelled through his veins and his jaw clenched. No way in hell was Riley going to share the same fate as Brittany, Olivia and Mallory. He thought about the other victim to be. The perp had to have already infiltrated her life, it was only a matter of time before he killed her and Nick only prayed that they found her first—alive.
The small coffee shop had a shabby chic feel to it with maroon painted walls. The large front windows overlooked the busy street, and the sounds of traffic filled the space each time the door opened. A glass shattered behind the large counter and bain-marie and a thin man with dark hair quickly swept up the shards.
Nick weaved his way through the small tables and chairs which stood on either side of the small aisle where the customers lined up to make their orders and pay for their coffee.
He found the nearest worker and headed for her. The girl, dressed in black slacks and form-fitting shirt covered with a matching black apron cleared a table, stacking crockery into a plastic tub. She looked up at him as he approached and smiled warmly. Her pretty smile faded as he introduced himself and stated his business.
Lifting the picture of the most recent victim, Mallory Duncan, he showed it the girl.
“Do you recognise this woman?”
The barista, a girl named Candice according to her name tag, a pretty brunette who didn’t look a day over fifteen studied the picture.
“Sure, that’s Mallory. She’s a regular around here. Non-fat latte with vanilla,” she added as she wiped down the table. “What’s this all about? She’s not in trouble, is she?”
Nick considered ignoring the question but the news of Mallory’s death would probably be printed in the morning edition of the Tribute so the young lady will soon know all the gory details. It was best to break the news to her now, she seemed like the sweet and caring type. “Mallory Duncan is dead.”
Candice’s mouth opened with a surprised ‘O’. “Dead?”
“Yes.”
Candice sank down heavily on the closest seat. “H-How? When?”
“Last night. She was murdered.”
“Oh God, poor Mallory. She was so nice.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Some people look down on baristas you know. We’re even lower than waitresses in their book and they treat us like dirt but not Mallory. She was always patient. Never minded waiting when we were busy. I can’t believe she’s dead.”
“Did she ever talk to you, about her life, boyfriends or co-workers?”
“Mallory didn’t have a boyfriend; she was really choosy.” Candice picked at her cuticles. “As for co-workers, I don’t know.”
“She worked across the street at the Vet, right?” At her nod, he continued. “You must’ve served a few of the staff there. Did you ever overhear them talking?”
“Sure, but nothing to do with Mallory.” Candice sniffled. “Everyone loved Mallory. You couldn’t help it, she was just so sweet.”
“We’re looking for a man. You said she didn’t have a boyfriend, what about an ex?”
Candice shook her head. “Mallory never said anything. She didn’t show signs of worry or stress she was just—Mallory.”
“Have you seen any strange guys come in lately? Ones you’d describe as being not quite right. Maybe even spent their time here chatting up the ladies?”
Candice gave him a sardonic smile. “Yeah sure, men like that are a dime a dozen around here.”
“Any of them pay special attention to Mallory?”
“No not really, she was very cautious. I think she’d been burned badly a couple times,” she added her own opinion. “I know she brushed off the invitations she got. She wasn’t a player out looking for a good time. A guy really had to be something before she spoke to them.”
Nick brought out the photos of the previous two victims. “Do you recognise either of these women?”
Candice took the photos and gave each serious thought before shaking her head. “No sorry. Unless they come in regularly or I notice something unique about them I can’t remember. We’re on a pretty popular corner and service the offices around here so we have a lot of foot traffic.”
Nick understood though a part of him wished she’d been more helpful. Thanking Candice, he jogged across the road to the Veterinary Hospital where Mallory worked. Hopefully, she confided more to a colleague then she did the sweet barista.
Twenty minutes he found that Mallory Duncan was a very private person and that no one knew what was going on in her life.
Chapter 14
The aroma of delicious food immediately assaulted his senses the moment Nick stepped into his apartment. He wasn’t sure what was cooking only that it smelled good and for a second wondered if it really was coming from his apartment. He inhaled deeply and followed his nose; pleasantly surprised when he arrived at his kitchen to find Riley, her hair flowing about her shoulders and dressed in his novelty “Kiss the Cook” apron his eldest sister, Kimberly had given him last Christmas.
Riley glanced over her shoulder from her position at the stove and smiled. Nick’s heart began to race. Surely, she knew how dangerous those smiles were?
“Are you hungry?”
“You cooked?” he asked in return, breathing in the mouth-watering scent.
Fatal Fiction (Harbour Bay Book 5) Page 8
