CHAPTER TWO

 

 

Ten minutes later, I pulled up to Chad’s apartment complex off West Spring Mountain Road and parked my ruby red Mazda Miata behind a black and white SUV, lights still strobing. I counted at least a half-dozen vehicles as I approached a uniformed officer on the path to Chad’s apartment.

“Sorry, no one is allowed through,” the officer intoned when I tried to step past him on the concrete walkway.

I peered around him, eager to catch a glimpse of someone I might know. I’d lived in Vegas a long time, maybe I’d get lucky. There!

“Catherine!” I called out to the willowy blond standing next to an attractive man in jeans. She glanced in my direction, half-heartedly waved, and I could tell by her expression I was right to expect a bad outcome.

The officer blocking my way frowned slightly. “Please stay where you are.”

Catherine appeared engaged in a deep conversation with the man in jeans, so I realized I would have to handle this on my own. I hated doing it, but desperate times, and all that.

I put on my widest smile. “Officer, I really need to get to my friend.” I watched as his frown faltered and his eyes took on the expected glaze.

“I have my orders,” he said in a monotone, and I nodded sympathetically.

“Of course, you do. But, it’s okay. Isn’t it.” This last I stated rather than asked.

Slack-jawed, the officer stepped to the side, allowing me passage. I hurried along before the enchantment broke, and joined Catherine and the man, who I realized was law enforcement, judging from the shiny detective’s badge clipped to his jeans. My eyes wandered lower and I snapped my gaze up. Good grief.

Catherine enveloped me in a hug, easy since she was several inches taller than me, even without her heels. “He’s dead, Mia. He’s dead.” Her voice cracked and I tightened my embrace.

I felt eyes on me as I released Catherine.

“And who might you be?”

I turned to the voice and watched, bemused, as the detective looked back and forth between me and the officer who abandoned his orders by letting me through. The detective’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Don’t be mad at the officer. I simply explained that I needed to get through,” I answered the unasked question.

“Why did you need to get through? Who are you?” he repeated as he took in my appearance.

Inwardly I sighed. Although I was about 200 years old (after a while, who really cared to keep track?) my appearance suggested early-thirties, probably about the same as the detective. I didn’t have your typical appearance; my high cheekbones could cut glass and my electric green eyes have been known to stop conversations.

Plus, there was my hair. I watched his eyes move over the emerald green waves that flowed to my waist. I checked him out as well before answering his questions. He looked like a world-weary Captain America, frankly. Blue eyes. Close cut blond hair. A cute crooked nose, probably from being broken at least once. Nice body, maybe a surfer, now or in the past. And, as we silently assessed each other, I felt an itch to touch his lips, his arms, his—what??

“I’m Mia Fynn,” I answered with a glance at Catherine, to break the contact with the detective.

“You knew the victim,” he responded, his eyes softening when he saw mine pool with unshed tears.

“I produced the movie he was promoting.”

“This is Detective Jacob Dawson,” Catherine introduced the surfer cop. “He’s been assigned to investigate Chad’s death.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “What happened?”

“That’s what I’m going to find out, Ms. Fynn.”

“Please, call me Mia,” I said, extending my hand. He automatically reached to grip mine in response, though his attention was elsewhere. Until our skin touched. I pulled my hand abruptly from his as our eyes met.

“Static electricity,” I offered with a bark of laughter.

“Uh huh,” he responded, his pupils dilating.

Catherine seemed unaware of the sexual tension between me and Jacob. I seized the opportunity to address her. “I take it you saw the Facebook Live.”

She nodded. “I was describing it to Jacob when you walked up.”

“You saw it too, Ms—Mia.”

Tears threatened again. Catherine and I walked the detective through exactly what we both watched. Jacob frowned when we got to the part about Chad being pulled backward by an unseen force

“An invisible killer?”

“We didn’t see anybody,” I answered and Catherine agreed. “What did you find in his apartment?” I gestured toward the two-story stucco building behind us.

Jacob stared at me for a long minute. “Why not? It’ll be all over the news by tonight, I’m sure.” He paused again, gathering his thoughts. “We found the victim – Chad – deceased upon our arrival. We had to break into the apartment.”

“Everything was locked? No forced entry?”

Again, Jacob stared at me for a moment. This time Catherine didn’t miss the tension, but it was not sexual, it was distrust.

“Mia and I really like those forensics shows,” she inserted with a forced laugh.

“No. No forced entry. There was one door in and out. Locked. Windows were closed and locked. From the inside.”

I heard the frustration in his voice. I placed a hand on his arm and he startled from the snap of electricity. “Sorry,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Nothing appeared disturbed in the apartment. His computer had gone into sleep mode, but when our tech guy woke it up, or whatever, it was still on Facebook.”

“How did he die?” I didn’t really want to know, but…

“Suffocation.”

“Oh. So not accidental or medical.” Having seen the event, I doubted it would be either of those, but I had hoped against hope.

“No.”

“None of his neighbors saw or heard anything?” I persisted in asking.

“No.” Jacob’s eyes narrowed at me.

Catherine’s gaze flicked between us again, probably trying to identify why Jacob was suddenly treating me like a suspect. I kind of wanted to know that too. Or maybe he just didn’t want civilians acting like armchair detectives. I supposed it didn’t really matter. As long as the killer was found.

“I’ll let you get back to it, then,” I spoke into the silence. As I turned, Jacob touched my shoulder.

“What’s your phone number?”

My eyes widened, and he finally smiled.

“In case I have any additional questions,” he clarified and a blush burned across my alabaster skin. His smile broadened, and I broke eye contact.

“Of course.” I spelled my name for him and provided the requested number. I risked eye contact again before leaving and there was something unreadable in his eyes. He removed a card from his wallet, scribbled on it, and handed it to me.

“My cell is on there too. Text me if you have any additional information.” Catherine tilted her head inquisitively at this statement but said nothing. Maybe Jacob didn’t usually give out his cellphone number?

“It was nice meeting you,” I stated by rote. “I wish it had been under better circumstances.”

“It was nice meeting you too,” he replied.

I hugged Catherine goodbye, we promised to talk soon, and I walked away. I felt Jacob’s eyes on me until I passed into the darkness beyond the streetlights and reached my car. Once inside, a whoosh of air escaped. What on earth was happening to me? It must be the emotions of the evening, I decided, and headed home to replenish my energy.