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ON HIS WAY OUT OF THE coffee shop, the front page of the Stewart Herald caught Landry’s attention. He headed back to his car to find some change to buy a paper. Once at his desk, he sat down to read it. He read the article in disbelief. Damn, the lady was actually a really good reporter. She was leaning towards the same way of thinking on the case as he was. Maybe he should give the woman some credit. He wondered if any of the other reporters had reached the same conclusion. As he finished reading the article, a plan began to take form. He headed to Sheriff Williams’s office to discuss a few things with him.
He had knocked on Sheriff Williams’s door before he entered the office. “Got a minute, sir? I have something I want to run past you.”
Sheriff Williams picked up the paper on of his desk, “Did you see this piece?”
Landry shook his head, “That is the reason I came to see you. I have a plan.”
Landry explained how he wanted Ms. Matthews to write a piece exclusively for them, she would be privy to some of the information. Sheriff Williams asked him, ‘Do you think she will agree to it?”
“You read the piece; it is good. Plus, the lady has spunk. Not only that, but she is hungry enough to jump on the chance. If we give her some exclusivity, she will help us look good in the process. No one wants to hear her saying that we have no clue as to the killer’s identity.” As Landry thought more about his plan, the better he felt about it. “I can call and ask her to lunch to discuss this, if it is okay with you.”
Landry was glad he paid extra attention to how he looked this morning. Not only was he clean shaven, but he was even wearing a shirt and tie, as well as dress pants.
He waited for an answer from Sheriff Williams, “I don’t know. She is fairly new, and we don’t even know if the paper will go for it. Also, I don’t want everything getting into the paper.”
“She may be fairly new at the paper, but I have checked up on her. She is the perfect person for this job. And I very seriously doubt that the paper will turn down the opportunity. This story is on everyone’s tongues. I have no doubt that the Stewart Herald would want to one up the other papers and news channels. We only give her what we want her to print. We’ll use the press to our advantage.”
Landry took a sip of his coffee as Sheriff Williams thought this through. He winced when he tasted the coffee.
He heard Sheriff Williams. “That coffee will definitely put hair on your chest.”
Landry grimaced at the thought. “That’s the last thing I need.”
Sheriff Williams asked if there were any updates on the case, “No sir. Forensics has about given up on finding any pertinent evidence. We did identify one woman who reserved a room a day before one of the murders and checked out the following day. Unfortunately, she paid using one of those prepaid credit cards and used the online site for reservations. The computer techs are trying to track her down. She gave a fake number as her contact number. We have had no luck with the escort services yet. They refuse to help. Several of the victims were most likely picked up in the bar. The bartender acknowledged that the lady in the picture was the lady that picked one man up in the bar. No one recognized her, though. She may wear a disguise. The front desk receptionist did not recognize her as the woman that checked in. She has to be a master of disguise though, because the doormen have yet to see her.”
“Do you still believe she is an escort?”
Landry nodded his head in agreement, “I think if she doesn’t have a date scheduled, she goes on the prowl looking for a mate.”
“So, what? You figure our killer will read the article in the paper and walk in here to let us know why she kills?”
“As nice as that would be, I don’t think we will be that lucky. However, maybe the article will help jar someone’s memory. Someone out there had to have seen something. Or maybe the article will upset her enough to have her make a mistake.”
“Well then, go see if this Matthews woman is interested in doing the article.”
Landry sat back down at his desk armed with a roast beef po’boy and a jumbo coffee from the deli next door. Just the aroma of the coffee had been enough to jump start his nervous system. As he checked his emails, he bit down into the thick sandwich, dripping with au jus and spicy Cajun mustard.
Now that Landry needed Chloe Matthews pestering him she was nowhere around. He did a quick DMV check to find her home address.
Landry was in awe as he pulled up to her house. He let out a soft whistle. Journalism must pay better than he thought. He bet the house cost more than he would ever earn in a lifetime.
He rang the doorbell and waited for her to answer. She was startled to see Detective Landry here at her house, “Detective, this is a pleasant surprise.”
He was still in awe of his surroundings as he asked, “Can I come in for a moment?”
For a moment when he entered the house he found himself speechless as he looked around. He was standing in the marble foyer when a tiny dog came yapping toward him. The little thing circled around his feet begging for attention. Chloe bent down to pick it up. She smiled up at him, “This is Junior.”
The house was impressive. How did someone like her afford a place like this? The last he heard, journalists did not make that much money starting off. How did she afford a home of this magnitude?
He suddenly became aware of how little he knew about the woman. He wondered what she must have thought of his little house that he had worked so hard for. His whole house could probably fit in just the foyer of hers. The entire back of the house overlooked the Mississippi River. It was a breathtaking view.
To the right of the foyer was a living room tastefully furnished. To the left was a large dining room that looked as if it had never been used. It was filled with expensive mahogany furniture. A table that easily seated twelve was in the middle of the dining room, perfectly set for a dinner. A large hutch was situated along the middle of one of the main walls and filled with china and crystal glasses. The hardwood floors gleamed. It was one of the most elegant dining rooms he had ever seen.
He reached over to her and scratched the little dog’s ears as he told her, “Ms. Matthews, I have a proposition to talk to you about.”
That piqued her interest. She arched an eyebrow, “Oh yeah? I was getting ready to prepare supper if you are interested in joining me in the kitchen.”
“I don’t want to put you out or anything.”
“It’s not a problem. I was about to put a pizza in the oven.”
He let out a low whistle as they walked into the kitchen, “You have a gourmet kitchen like this and you put a pizza in the oven?”
Landry felt out of his element here. Never in his life would he be able to afford such extravagances.
She chuckled at that remark, “I’m honestly not a very good cook, but I also wasn’t in the mood to go out for supper, so I figured pizza was good enough. Besides, I have a little more research I want to do.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about actually, your research.”
Her forehead creased with tiny lines as she drew her brows together. Landry found himself wanting to run his fingers over the creases and smooth them out. Maybe he was wrong in his assumption that she would want to do this story. Could it be he let his hidden desire for her blind him to her true capabilities? Maybe he should have chosen a more seasoned reporter.
“Are you questioning my research? I didn’t mention anything about your case possibly involving a black widow killer.”
“No, but I need you to understand that I may give you privileged information, but releasing some of it to the public would be detrimental to the investigation.”
That caught her attention, “What exactly do you have in mind detective?”
“What I’m saying, is that I will share information with you, but you are only authorized to release the information I specify that I want you to print. If I find out you have printed any additional information the deal is off.”
“What if I want to be the judge of what gets printed?”
Landry clenched his jaw and settled a menacing gaze on her, “This is not open for debate. You are only to print what I allow you to print, is that understood?”
“Will you give me an exclusive when this is all over?”
Landry nodded his head in acceptance, “I will grant you an exclusive interview with not only me but the killer as well.”
“And what? Do a cover story on you, Detective Landry? Can I write about your life?”
Landry had no desire to be in the public limelight. No matter how pretty she may be, there was no way she would talk him into an article focused on him. He had no problems informing her, “Even my closest friends don’t get to know the real me.”
“And why is that?”
“I like my privacy. I have no desire for any aspect of my life to be announced to the public.”
“You know that you are the lead detective on this case. Your name will be splashed all over the news.”
Landry had a suspicion that Chloe Matthews knew more about him that he wanted her to. He wondered how much information she had been able to dig up on him.
“I want to focus on this case and that is it. I think we have an opportunity to draw the killer out.”
Chloe started writing down some ideas and placed the end of the pen on the edge of her lower lip as she pondered several different angles she could pursue. As Landry watched her, he felt a stirring in his groin. Damn, it was hard to remain professional when she looked so sexy.
“So, do you want me to talk about what an amoral person she is?”
“Hell no! You don’t want to make her out to be the monster she is. If we want to draw her out, we want to make her sound like a victim.”
“What did you just say?” Chloe nearly choked on the words as she spoke them. “You are joking, right? Surely you don’t want me to make her out to be some misunderstood female.”
“No, but if you go and print that she is a monster, she may never show herself. I want to play up to her vulnerabilities, show that she has a weak side.”
She contemplated how she could do this, “And how do you expect me to do this?”
“I want you to pretend like you understand how she feels. How men are such lying scum, something along those lines?”
“Oh yeah, that will keep the dates rolling in for me then, won’t it?”
“I don’t know how you want to write the article. This is your profession, not mine.”
She looked him over, “I’ll get this printed up and fax you a copy. You can make any suggested changes you want and fax it back to me.”
Landry stood up to leave, “I appreciate you agreeing to work with me on this.”
She smiled at him, “I sure hope the rewards are worth it.” Landry caught the double meaning and suggestiveness of her tone. Should he offer her a sampling of some of the rewards? He could be playing with fire.