Chapter Fourteen

Elijah’s day started with another quick call from Pamela and another poem.

Penny Appleby

A woman who runs alone in the park

Might run into madness hidden in the dark

Through her small ear pieces, music did play

Quite the laugh—I didn’t even know she was gay

The Rhymester

Elijah sighed. At this point, he might never enjoy reading poetry again. This deviant was having way too much fun as he destroyed the lives of his innocent victims and their families. He was pathetically grateful that Sanchez had agreed to speak to the staff and clients at their victim’s yoga studio. Fatigue and frustration were setting in, and he was running out of time. The only reason that the FBI hadn’t been called in yet was that they were over-extended at the moment. It bought him and Sanchez a little more time to try and solve this case. Three murders and two foiled attempts had given them a sound, basic description and some DNA. What were they missing that could break the case wide open?

When Elijah couldn’t work any longer, he dragged himself to his feet, grabbed his jacket, and headed downstairs. To his shock, he found Dayle waiting by the sergeant’s desk, working on her laptop. Standing, she tucked her things away. She took his arm, said goodnight to the others, and exited with him.

“I’m so exhausted, I thought I was seeing things. I can’t believe you waited for me.” A hum of pleasure revived him.

She smiled. “Have you got the car tonight?”

“Yes. Ray picked Sanchez up.”

“I thought I could tuck you in.” She paused to smile up at him. “After that, I’ll go home if that’s what you want.”

He ran his fingers down her arm and squeezed her hand. “My preference would be that you stay.”

“Well, good. That would be my preference as well.”

He thought for a moment about how special he had wanted their first night together to be, then shoved his concerns aside. Real life had a way of wrecking the best laid plans anyway. Whatever happened, there would be the pleasure of mutual discovery. When they reached the car, he saw her inside, then took his own seat behind the wheel.

The drive home was blessedly short. He ignored the telling thrum of his heart as it beat faster in anticipation. As soon as they stepped inside the entrance and he locked the door, she moved closer. Her arms looped around his waist, and she reached up, her lips warm and welcoming. Touching her felt different this time. Something vital between them had changed. Her body beckoned to his. He could feel her curves against him, and she fit in every way that counted. The knowledge that she had made the first move toward this ignited him in an unfamiliar way.

“Come upstairs,” he murmured. He gestured her ahead of him as they climbed the staircase to his bedroom. Struggling to remain a gentleman, he couldn’t help but notice the gentle sway of her hips. They entered and paused beside the bed. “I need a shower,” he said. Meeting her gaze to make sure she was onboard with his intentions, he unbuttoned his shirt. She joined him without a word, mimicking his actions with her own clothing. A tremor worked through his body as her body was revealed to him one tempting piece at a time. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined,” he said, moving toward her. “I’ve thought about this since we first spoke.”

She reached a hand to touch his chest, her soft fingers sending a trail of electricity over his body. “Making the first move is much easier than I expected.”

He led her into the bathroom by the hand, grateful for the larger shower he’d installed two years ago. Turning on the water to warm, he set two bath sheets on the corner, and they went inside.

Warm water streamed over them as he chose a fresh bar of soap and lathered her. He couldn’t look away from her dark, expressive eyes. In their glimmering depths, he saw her answering desire, and a thrill traveled down his back. Her skin, so soft under his touch, reminded him of silk.

“Turn around.” She took the soap from his hand and did the same for him. Her touch made him ache for so much more, and he schooled himself to patience. Her gentle fingers moved from his chest to his legs, exploring everything in between. After a while, it taunted too much, and they rinsed. Stepping onto the cushioned mat, he toweled her hair, then wrapped the fluffy bath sheet around her. She did the same for him.

Taking her by the hand, he led her to his bed. Any sense of fatigue had long fled. As they dropped their towels, she lay down and slid over, making room for him. Struck by the surreal picture of her lying there, waiting for him, he joined her. The shock of her skin against his imprinted on his memory to savor later. Cupping her head to stare into her eyes, he said, “Tell me if I do anything you don’t like. I want this to be all about your pleasure.”

She smiled. “How about yours?”

“It’s pleasure enough that you’re here with me.” He kissed her, then, as her mouth opened to him. Heat mixed with the simple acceptance of desire. Her hands began to roam, coaxing him to a realm where discipline waned. “You feel wonderful.”

“I wondered what this would be like.”

“Did you?”

“Yes…and even the rampant edges of my imagination fell short of this.” His fingers stroked her breasts, and he heard her make a hum of feminine approval in her throat. Wandering farther, his hands found damp heat waiting, and she arched toward him. He pulled her closer and, shifting, nestled between her thighs. Watching the hungry expression in her eyes encouraged him. She murmured his name, and he pushed inside her, taking his time as she enveloped him in beckoning heat and softness.

Setting a slow rhythm took all his restraint. Had he ever experienced such compelling pleasure? It was as if their bodies were created to complement each other. He held her hips in his hands, and they moved together. The silky skin of her thighs glided against his, and the sensation stole his breath. Before long, she began to moan and thrash. “Elijah…”

“Shhh. I’ve got you.” He picked up his rhythm, leaning to press his lips to the pulse that throbbed in her slender throat. When she came, he held her tight, holding off until he could wait no longer. Joining her in release, he gazed into her eyes, and all his emotions fell into place.

Home. Being with her was like coming home.

When every shudder waned, he moved to lie next to her, panting. After a moment, he reached down to cover them both with the comforter. When he lay back, she shifted to lie against his chest. He stroked her hair. “I was so happy to see you waiting for me.”

She chuckled. “That’s pretty forward for me, but it seemed like the right decision.”

“I feel compelled to agree.”

Kissing him, she said, “Now, get some sleep. I know you have to go back in the morning.” She stroked his arm and, before long, he did as she suggested.

The sound of the shower woke him as the morning sun crept into the sky. He had a confused moment, still not quite awake, until he remembered and smiled. Tempted to join her, he realized neither of them would be on time for work if he did. Instead, he waited to enjoy the sight of her as she stepped out a few minutes later.

The image of her as she stood, silhouetted against the white tiles, toweling off, made his body hum with pleasure. “I can’t think of a nicer scene to wake up to.”

She looked up, and a pleased smile crossed her face. “You were still sleeping, so I thought I’d go first.”

The husky timbre of her voice made him regret his responsibilities. “I considered joining you, but then we would both be late.”

She laughed. “That’s true.”

He swung his legs out of bed, stood, and stretched, arms reaching toward the ceiling. Meeting her in the doorway, he leaned down and kissed her, rubbing a dot of water from her jaw with one finger. “Have you got enough time for a bite of breakfast?”

Glancing at the clock, she frowned. “Better not. I might be clean, but I still have to go home and change.”

“Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll drop you off.”

“How about your breakfast?”

Turning the shower faucet back on, he swiveled around and grinned. “I’ll raid Sanchez’s desk. I can always count on her having something sinful in the desk drawer I can eat.”

He was a man of his word. Fourteen minutes later, they exited the front door. As soon as he eased into traffic, she said, “You really are very punctual.”

“I was late once because of a flat tire, and Sanchez panicked. I texted her eight minutes after I was due to arrive, and she’d already called the hospitals to check on accidents.”

“That’s hilarious.” She paused. “I like her energy and her sense of humor. Ray’s, too.”

He nodded. “Yes. She chases him around, and he settles her down a bit. It’s the perfect balance.”

“That makes sense. You were married at one time, right?”

“Yes. For four years.” He knew what was coming, but it didn’t bother him.

“Do you mind me asking why you divorced?”

“No, I don’t care. I’m afraid I have to take the majority of the blame for that failure. I’m pretty dedicated to my job, and Lynn said I didn’t have enough time for her. She may have had a point.”

“But you were a cop when you married her, right? She knew long hours were involved.”

“Yes. I was fresh out of the academy and very eager to prove myself. I just think most spouses don’t understand the sheer man hours required to make your mark in my line of work.”

“Especially when you want to be a detective.”

“Exactly.”

“Do you ever see her?”

“No. She’s remarried and lives in Connecticut, now. Three children, white picket fence, and the whole deal.” He made his way through one light and slowed for the next. “How about your ex-husband? Does he live nearby?”

Her body stiffened. Looking away from him, she shook her head. “No. He lives in Los Angeles.”

The tone of her voice alerted him that she’d rather avoid the subject. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, he switched to asking about her plans for the day. Her shoulders relaxed. “Mostly case preparation today and one court case this afternoon that should be quick and easy.”

“Plea bargain?”

“Yes.”

“It would be nice if more cases could be handled that way. The court’s backlog wouldn’t be nearly as challenging.” He swung up in front of her apartment building. “Well, don’t work too late.”

“I won’t.” She leaned to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for the drive and…everything else.”

“It was very much my pleasure.”

Flashing him a smile, she shut the door with a muffled thump. He watched as a man held open the front door of the building, his gaze appreciative as she entered. Forcing his attention to work, Elijah headed for his garage.

His mind crept back to her as he climbed the stairs to his office. The one thing that had bothered him last night was a scar he’d seen on the side of her lower abdomen. Asking about it would have upset her, but his curiosity wouldn’t let it go. He’d seen a lot of injuries in his career, and he recognized a knife scar when he saw it. There was a story there. He hoped that, someday, in the near future, she would trust him enough to tell him about its history.

****

Elijah received a text from Seth as he sat at his desk drinking his morning coffee.

—I know you’re busy, but I have plans drawn out for that kitchen unit for Homestead. Want me to email them to you?—

He’d need a lunch break anyway. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

—Do you have time for a quick lunch today? I want to bounce an idea off you. You could bring the plans along.—

—Sure. Smithees at noon work for you?—

—Yes. See you then.—

Smithees was an old diner the local cops frequented, the spot convenient and familiar for both him and Seth. A retired detective owned the place, and he made the generous servings overload the confines of the plates. The interior was nothing to brag about, but the old guy could seriously cook and cheap food, hefty platefuls, and camaraderie kept the boys in blue coming through the door. Elijah wouldn’t need any dinner after a meal there.

Working at his desk all morning didn’t yield any significant progress. At 11:45, he walked Sanchez to the door, and they headed off in opposite directions. She would grab a quick lunch with Ray while he met Seth.

Not surprisingly, the restaurant was already half full when he arrived, old rock and roll playing in the background. Pausing by the door to take his coat off, he saw Seth raise a hand from the back to attract his attention. He made his way there, nodding to a few familiar faces on the way. Several people watched to see who he was meeting. Cops tended to be nosy. It came with the territory. “Hey, Seth,” he greeted the other man, stretching out a hand to shake. He slid into the opposite side of the red vinyl booth and settled his forearms against the worn melamine table. “Thanks for meeting me.”

He smiled. “Nice to break up the day with a friend. Want to order so we can talk and eat?”

“Sounds good.” He looked at the battered vinyl menu and chose what he thought of as the least harmful option: a grilled chicken sandwich with extra vegetables and ice water. It amused him that Seth chose the same thing. He knew the other man worked out daily and probably watched his calories, too.

After the curvy waitress took the orders, giving Seth a teasing wink, she hurried back to the bustling kitchen. His friend pulled a piece of paper from an inside pocket, handing it to him across the table. “The plan’s pretty basic, but I think the table and storage should work fine. I took the measurements after you left the other day.”

Elijah looked it over, impressed with the scaled drawing, done on graph paper. “It looks perfect. Should we show it to Sara Towers before we order the lumber?”

“I already sent one to her to see if it would work. I hope that’s okay. She was pretty enthusiastic, but I told her I wanted to show it to you first.”

“Oh, that’s fine. Can you order the lumber and other supplies we need, and I’ll reimburse you for it?”

“Sure. I’ll call the list in later today. Any chance you can give me a hand for an hour or two on the weekend? I’ll custom cut everything, so it should be easy to put it together on site.”

“I can take a few hours Saturday morning, barring emergencies.”

He grinned. “Maybe Dayle can give us a hand.”

“I’ll be sure to ask her.”

“How’s that going?” he asked.

“Suspiciously well which makes me a little paranoid. Until her, my track record was a little shaky.”

“I know what you mean. This business is hell on a relationship. It isn’t for everyone.”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

Shaking his head, he said, “Haven’t been too interested in anyone, lately.” He took a drink of his water. “This city’s hard on us single folks, and I’m not interested in dating apps. Been there, done that, and it wasn’t pretty.”

They paused while their waitress delivered their sandwiches. The thick slabs of homemade bread held fresh vegetables along with a thick slab of seasoned chicken. The aroma of rosemary drifted up. Nodding their thanks, they dug in. After a few bites, Elijah paused. “I wanted to ask you if you’ve ever thought of taking the detective’s exam.”

Seth tilted his head, looking amused as he finished his bite. “What, are you a mind reader or something?”

“What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “I enjoyed working with you on the Marks’ scene, and I’ve been toying with the idea ever since.”

“Good. I think you should. You’re very detail-oriented and observant, probably the two most important things. Plus, you get along well with others.”

He met his gaze. “I don’t get along with Hadley, but he’s the rare exception.”

Elijah laughed. “Nobody gets along with Hadley except Davis who’s cornered the market on patience. Don’t worry about it.”

“I heard the exam’s pretty tough.”

“Do you like to read?”

“Yes.”

“Then as long as you study, you’ll be fine. It’s a lot of memorization and simple common sense. Usually, the people who struggle are the ones who don’t like to read in the first place.” He smiled. “The hours are lousy, but it’s a little more money, more respect, and definitely more interesting. You’ve done your share of years on the beat. There’s an exam coming up in two months. Start right now, take it seriously, and you’ll be fine.”

Nodding, he took a bite of his sandwich, chewed, and swallowed. “Speaking of Hadley and other assorted assholes, did you hear what happened at Mike’s bar the other night?”

“No. We’ve been pretty tied up with this case.”

“I guess Hadley got pretty hot under the collar with some woman he was interested in, and Davis had to intervene.”

It caught his attention, maybe because nothing the jerk did surprised him. “That’s the first time I’ve heard of him causing trouble outside the precinct.”

Seth nodded. “Me, too. I guess he asked her out and when she refused, he just kept repeating ‘Why not? Give me one good reason.’ ” He shook his head. “She just kept backing up, and he followed her toe-to-toe. He should be glad Davis was around to talk some sense into him. That’s some serious shit.”

“Did Davis persuade him to leave the bar?”

“Yeah. I guess he even insisted on driving him home to make sure he sobered up.”

“He’d better hope the lieutenant doesn’t hear about it.”

“I know. He’s not the brightest bulb in the pack.”

They polished off their sandwiches. Afterwards, Seth sat back with a sigh. “As far as the detective exam goes, I appreciate your support, Elijah. I think I’m going to do it. At this point in my life, I think I’m ready for a change.”

“Absolutely. And if you need some help studying, let me know. Be glad to help.” He picked up the tab for lunch over Seth’s protests. “You can get it next time.”

“Fair enough.” They ventured out to the street together and parted ways at the door. Walking back to the precinct, Elijah reflected on the fact that it satisfied him to help someone move forward as he had. The department needed more Seth Parkers and fewer Hadleys. Whining and taking the easy way out didn’t get the job done, but hard work always did.

****

Dayle tried to keep her mind on her towering pile of paperwork, but the memory of last night’s encounter with Elijah kept distracting her. Who knew that a reserved man like him would make such a wonderful lover?

Quite a daring move, waiting for him like that, but she’d been a coward for too long. Her confidence in dealing with men had been shattered for years, but, somehow, he made her feel more adventurous. The intensity he’d brought to the bedroom surprised her and appealed to her hidden romantic streak. Sexual pleasure had played hide and seek with her libido until now. He’d made her needs a priority, and her release had been unparalleled. If she looked in the mirror, she was sure her smile would reveal secrets better kept to herself.

He’d been painfully honest about his part in his unsuccessful marriage, and she appreciated his honesty. Sometime soon, she would tell him about her disastrous marriage. If there was a contest about who’d made the worst choice, she’d win, hands down. She hadn’t wanted to spoil the morning after by delving into that thorny subject.

She knew he’d seen the scar, had in fact pressed his lips against it as if to soothe her. It brought a tear to her eye that he’d chased away with pleasure. The fact that he never pushed her about anything made him such easy company. For the first time in many years, her private life encouraged thoughts of the future. But, for now, she’d better get back to work or she wouldn’t have a job.

****

Sanchez returned from interviewing the young staff at the yoga studio around eleven.

“Find out anything useful?” Elijah leaned against the chair, stretching his back.

“Nah. She was a great boss, it’s a tragedy, blah, blah, blah. Lots of tears and red faces.” She hopped on the edge of the desk. “She and her manager were close friends, and the woman said she kept her sexuality more or less a secret.” She shook her head. “Remember the demonstrators in the park? I guess more people had figured it out than she thought.”

“How close were she and the manager?”

“They weren’t lovers. She’s married to a dude. I guess the victim’s parents are super religious and she didn’t want them to know. That’s the reason for all that talk about taking the wrong path.”

He thought it through. “I bet the killer didn’t know. Or maybe he just didn’t care about her sexual orientation. What do you think?”

“He hasn’t raped any of them. Maybe their sexuality doesn’t matter to him.”

“Is he wandering off script or just getting sloppy about his research? Or, like you said, is it a case of any woman will do?”

“I dunno.” She lifted an eyebrow. “You look awful chipper today.”

He smothered a smile. “Finally got some sleep for a change.”

She peered into his face, squinting. “I don’t know, friend. You still got shadows under your eyes, but you’re smilin’ ear to ear. Anybody keeping you company under the bedcovers?”

A telltale heat came to his cheeks, and he tried to will it away.

“You dog, you.”

“I didn’t say anything,” he protested. “You have a great imagination.”

She pointed a finger at him, close enough he could take a bite if he was so inclined. “I know that look. That’s a quiet guy’s way of saying, ‘Hell, yes.’ ” She slapped him on the arm. “Good going.”

“Can we get back to the case now?”

“If we have to.”

“See what else you can dig up on social media. I’m going to talk to the boss and see if we can track down a policewoman we could use to try and set a trap.”

“Dayle offered.”

“Too risky. But maybe we can find someone who looks enough like her to pass. Tall brunettes can’t be that rare.” Walking down the hall, he rapped on the door frame and his lieutenant looked up. “Do you have a few minutes for an update?”

His boss put down the paper he’d been reading. “Sure. Take a seat.”

He ran through the facts on the latest victim and the leads they were pursuing. After getting him up to date, he mentioned their idea of a trap. “Stockard offered to do it, but she’s next best thing to a civilian. It’s too risky. But what if we had her include a few taunts in the interview to goad him? Then, when it comes to setting the trap, we substitute a police woman in her place, somewhere we can control.”

“Not a bad idea. Have you got anyone in mind?”

“No, but there’s bound to be someone close enough in looks. He won’t get near enough to see the imposter in time.”

He nodded, looking thoughtful. “I think the idea has some merit. Go ahead and come up with a game plan. If we don’t think out of the box, I don’t think we’ll catch him.”

“Yes, sir.”

****

Early this morning, Detective Jones had watched Dayle Stockard kiss Black on the cheek before he dropped her off. His alter ego, The Rhymester, might even be tempted to write a sonnet about it. Isn’t that sweet, he thought as she walked away. Black had obviously bedded her, but he couldn’t believe that the lieutenant’s pet could satisfy a woman like her. Give me a chance. He would make her scream in every way she could imagine and a few she couldn’t.

Stockard was tall and fit, but if she expected to win against a man in a fight, she was in for a surprise. The most difficult part would be exactly how to gain access to her. She worked long hours, and her office was well-protected. Her hobbies were a mystery. She didn’t blab the way so many of the dumb bitches did, and she had non-existent social media going on.

It would be his biggest challenge yet. One with a newly imagined reward before death.

She would be the first one he’d rape before he killed her, the first one he’d take in private rather than in public. Hell, he could put in for some time off and hold her for days. What was better than one rape? Ten or twelve. The possibilities were endless.

When he was done with her, she’d never give him that blank smile and walk past him again.