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LANDRY SIGHED IN FRUSTRATION. He was getting nowhere on this case. No witnesses have come forward with any useful information. He feared this case would remain unsolved, and worse the killer would strike again soon. Landry could think of nothing besides stopping this elusive murderer.
He temporarily moved his office into the task room for now. Currently, he was staring out the massive picture window that overlooked City Hall. It was not near as depressing as looking at the murder boards that lined the other wall. Papers scattered the conference table in the room.
Landry should sort through the documents piling up in his inbox. It was a menial task that may help take his mind away from his current problems, ashe had reached a stalemate in this case. He despised when he couldn’t seem to move forward with a case.
Just when he thought this day couldn’t get any worse, he saw Chloe Matthews walk into the station. Mon Dieu, she was good looking. She had a body that didn’t quit. She was pure trouble, trouble that he should stay away from. Getting involved with her, hell, even flirting with her would be a huge mistake. He couldn’t take the chance on anything jeopardizing this investigation.
Chloe Matthews stepped up to the front desk, “Excuse me, I’m looking for Detective Landry.”
He watched in horror as Sergeant Daniels pointed her in the direction of his desk. He found it hard to believe that the young sergeant would point her in his direction. He had hoped he would throw her out on her ear.
***
CHLOE SMILED AT THE young man sitting at the desk as she walked in the direction he pointed. She was proud of herself. At times, being a woman could be extremely beneficial, plus wearing a short skirt and low cut blouse didn’t hurt. She managed to charm more than a few reluctant sources into giving her information in this very outfit. She hoped that Detective Landry would be just as easy.
Peeking into the room, she watched the man move about, obviously ignoring her. Landry wanted her to believe that he was engrossed in his work, and she would decide to leave him alone. He picked up one of the reports and pretended to study it intently. He continued to ignore her, standing at the table perusing the report. He caught a glimpse of her standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest.
Chloe studied him intently. He kept his hair short, almost a buzz cut. He definitely could carry this look off; it somehow made him look even more macho. He had deep set eyes, which lent to his devilishly handsome appearance. High cheekbones graced his lean face. She still thought his best feature was his mouth. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies at the mere thought of those lips touching hers. Groaning inwardly, she decided she needed to get her libido in check. She didn’t even know this man, and here she stood entertaining sinful thoughts about him.
Chloe cleared her throat to draw his attention. He looked her way and then continued studying his report. She could tell that he was not happy to see her, it was fairly apparent in the fixed set of his jaw.
Chloe called out, “Detective Landry,” as she walked through the doorway and into the room. She extended a hand as she approached him. The purpose of this meeting was to build his trust, so she made sure to mind her manners.
Landry reluctantly shook her hand, “Ms. Matthews.” She watched as he studied her, obviously scrutinizing her. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“As a matter of fact, there is something I wanted to ask you. I feel bad for disturbing you the other night, and I want to treat you to supper.”
She watched his face for a reaction. His expression hardened, which couldn’t be good. “That is not necessary. You were just doing your job, just as I was.”
“Detective Landry, please, I would appreciate it if you allowed me to take you out to supper. I promise I won’t bring up the case even once.” Chloe didn’t know what she would do if he turned her down. She was used to getting her way.
She watched as a grin formed across his face, “Is this a ploy to get me to relax and talk about the case?”
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. Had he somehow read her mind? The implication of his question took her by complete surprise. She straightened her back, “I promise you, it is simply a supper invitation so that we can get to know each other. I want to prove to you that I am not a bad person.”
Before he could answer her question, Landry’s partner, Detective Benoit, walked in the room. He glanced over at Chloe, “I hate to bother you mon ami, but we’ve got another body.”
***
LANDRY PUSHED PAST Chloe. His biggest fear just happened, another victim. He had a case to solve, and he couldn’t allow some overeager journalist to get in his way, no matter how beautiful she was. He couldn’t believe that just a moment ago, he considered pushing ethics aside and accept her dinner invitation. Those luscious lips and curvaceous body of hers, not to mention his lack of a sex life, had him really tempted. If she had been anybody other than a journalist, he would have entertained the idea of pursuing her.
He heard her calling him, “Detective Landry, please wait a minute.”
The click of her heels on the tiled floor told him she was closing in on him. A chuckle rose to the surface as he smiled at the idea of a woman chasing after him. What he wouldn’t give to have her throw another one of her sexy little temper tantrums; her arms crossed beneath those voluptuous breasts and her lower lip forming a sexy little pout.
He turned around and informed her, “We will have to continue this discussion later, much later. I have a case that I need to get to work on.”
As they headed out, he asked, “What do we have mon ami?”
“Another body at the Riverside Inn. Housekeeping assumed the victim had checked out, so they went to clean the room and found the body.”
By the time they arrived at the Riverside Inn, the news media van for KJUN, was already there. They must have just arrived because they were starting to set up the cameras. Benoit stated, “Seems someone tipped off KJUN. You don’t suspect your girlfriend made any calls do you?”
“Damn! I don’t think so; she seems too eager to get a scoop for herself to tip off KJUN. Besides, I don’t see her here yet.”
They walked up to the front desk to find out which room they needed to go to, “Room 304 gentlemen.”
An officer was already standing guard. Landry called Dr. Renault on the way over to the crime scene. He informed the young officer, “The ME is on her way, send her in when she arrives.”
“Yes, sir. Forensics are in there already.”
Officer Peterson was in the room working the scene. “Looks like another married man. The crime scene is identical to the others. He was from Grant, Texas.”
Landry would have to request someone from Grant, Texas to notify the wife of her husband’s death. He was glad he didn’t have to break the news to the family. He despised making notifications to family members. The crying always got to him.
Landry had recently been considering moving to a smaller town to work. He no longer wanted to look into the distraught face of someone and inform them that a beloved family member was deceased. In a small town, he doubted there would be any senseless violence. He had a feeling the only excitement the cops saw there were convenience store robberies.
Looking down at the body, Landry felt a stirring deep in his soul. He had no doubt that evil was at play here. He tried to shake off the feeling, but it refused to leave.
So far they have not found any clues that would lead to an arrest. Unlike most serial killers, they were unable to find any trophies this killer took from the victims. That bothered Landry. What were they missing? So far none of the family members noticed anything missing from any of the victims. Their wedding bands were accounted for as well as all of their other personal belongings.
Landry told his partner, “We have to go after this woman with a vengeance and stop her before she strikes again. She is obviously still in the area. Let’s hope that the doorman noticed something tonight.”