Dying Scream (38 page)

“Any thoughts as to what?”

“None. But it’s there. I know I’ve missed something.”

“I didn’t think you missed much.”

“Not enough sleep, I guess.”

Tess leaned forward. “How about tonight we let the work go. How about we do something radical.”

“Such as?”

“Have fun.”

“Fun?” A smile tweaked the edge of his lips. “I’ve heard of that.”

So the robot had a dry sense of humor. “It’s been around for a long time, and people of all walks of life pursue it.”

“Really? Might be worth some study.” He had long, lean hands, neatly trimmed nails, and no rings.

She tipped the neck of her beer bottle toward him. “That’s the thing. You can’t study it. It’s just something that you do.”

“What do you propose?”

“Breaking bread. Dinner. Conversation that’s not work related.”

“I’m game. When should we have this…what did you call it?”

She rose. “Fun. It’s called fun. And I suggest there is no time like the present. A bit of fun and you might find your mind clears and solutions present themselves.”

He stood and pulled his coat from the back of his chair. “I know a place. Great food.”

“My parents own a restaurant, so I’m quite particular.”

“You’ll like this place. I’ll drive.”

“Normally, I drive.”

“Why not kick back for an evening and let someone else do something for you?”

His tone more than his words convinced her. No demands. No expectation. Just a statement. “Okay, Alex Butler. You drive.”

Adrianna’s feet felt as if they’d explode in her four-inch heels. Thoughts of comfort had been secondary when she’d slipped on the stunning shoes earlier this evening. Now comfort was all she could think about.

A satisfied smile tipped her lips as she thought about the evening. It had been a fabulous success. She’d raised over a half a million dollars tonight and the proceeds would go directly to Mercy Hospital’s neonatal unit.

Somewhere along the evening, she’d lost sight of Gage. She’d meant to get back to him, had really wanted to, but she could never break free. So she’d shoved aside the disappointment and let herself be swept up by the night.

It was past eleven as she stood in the back of the ballroom, watching the waitstaff clear the dishes away, stack chairs, and vacuum the confetti off the floor.

She spotted Jessie and moved across the room. “Did Cary leave?”

“Contractions.”

“She all right?”

“Doing fine, according to her husband’s last report.”

Jessie looked tired. No doubt she’d been on the job fourteen or fifteen hours. “Thank you. I know you really helped make this event a success.”

Jessie nodded. “I was glad to help.”

“Do I need to sign anything?”

Jessie flipped through the pages of her clipboard and pulled out an invoice. “Yes.”

Adrianna accepted the sheet and glanced down the itemized list of the night. She’d been over this list with Cary at least a dozen times. It was just as she remembered it. No extra expenses or hidden costs. Lord knew she’d worked hard to make sure she’d accounted in advance for the costs.

“It looks just right.” She signed her name and added the extra swirl to the
B
. “Again, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

For just an instant, a heavy silence hung between them and she thought Jessie would say something. Instead, she smiled. “Think of us again for next year.”

Adrianna laughed. “Next year.” All she wanted to do was get through tomorrow.

She left the ballroom and moved across the lobby of the hotel toward the bank of elevators.

“Looks like your evening was a big hit.”

At the sound of Gage’s voice, she turned. He moved across the lobby. He’d lost the tie and unbuttoned the top couple of buttons of his shirt. He radiated a quiet strength.

“Your sister did a great job.”

“She runs a tight ship. I tried to keep my distance. She doesn’t appreciate the hovering.”

“I thought you’d have left by now.” She was careful to keep the excitement from her voice.

“Thought I’d stick around. Where’s Reese?”

“He had another appointment with a client.”

Gage frowned as if the answer did not set well. “He left you.”

“No. I brought myself. I had to get here so early, it made sense for me to drive.”

He nodded. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

Even in her heels he was taller. “Sure.”

The doors opened and they stepped inside the elevator.

The walls were lined with mirrors and the floor carpeted in a deep blue. However, the compartment shrank when the doors closed. All night she’d made small talk and now she struggled to find words. “Thanks for coming. Was it what you expected?”

“Yes and no. You amazed me how you made some of the city’s toughest weak at the knees.”

“Who did you have in mind?”

“Burt Kline, for one.”

“He was sweet.”

Gage looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “He’s a barracuda in the courtroom. Tried to do a number on me a couple of months ago.”

She could picture that. Burt was no one’s fool. “Really?”

“I testified against his client, who was on trial for murder. Kline tried to rip at my credibility.”

“I’ve seen his snaps of temper.” She shrugged. “I know how to handle him.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Is that what you do with people? Handle them?”

The doors to the elevator opened. “Isn’t that what you do?”

“Point taken.” They stepped out of the elevator and walked through the parking lot.

“Were you planning to walk to your car alone?”

“Sure.”

“Next time get an escort.”

“It’s well lighted.”

“Don’t be fooled.” He peered into the shadows.

As they walked to her car, the click of her heels echoed in the lot. Lord, but she longed to take the shoes off. “Are you always looking for trouble?”

“It has a way of showing up.”

They reached her car and she unlocked the front door. She was sorry to see him go. She wanted to ask him out or something but realized how painfully out of practice she was when it came to this sort of thing. “Thanks.”

He rested his arm against her open door. He lingered but didn’t ask her for anything. She sensed that if something was going to happen it would have to come from her. But she didn’t ask. “Thank you again.”

He nodded and stepped back. When she swung her legs inside he closed the door, lingering.

She fumbled with her keys, managed to get them in the ignition and start the car.

Gage tapped on her window. She glanced toward him, surprised now to see the frown on his face. She rolled down the window.

“You have a flat.”

“What?” She shut off the engine and got out. The right front tire was completely flat. “It was fine earlier today.”

“Do you have a spare?”

She frowned. “No. I mean, I did, but I had a flat about a month ago and had to use the spare. I just never got it replaced.”

That answer didn’t set well with him. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

“I can call a cab.”

He pulled his keys from his pocket. “My car is right over here.”

She closed and locked her door. “Tell me it’s not too far. These shoes are killing me.”

He glanced down at her shoes. Appreciation sparked. “They look great.”

She fell in step beside him. “So the pain was worth it?”

“Yes.”

Craig watched from the shadows. His anger burned as Hudson escorted his Adrianna away from him. Tonight was supposed to be their night. Their time together. And now she was slipping from his fingers.

Hudson was taking something from her.

Maybe he should repay the favor.

Jessie.

She wouldn’t leave the hotel for hours, but he could wait.

As he moved from the shadows back to his truck, his cell buzzed in his pocket. Annoyed, he snapped it open. “What?”

“I have another job for you.”

“Really?” The day wouldn’t be a total loss.

“Janet Guthrie.”

“Why her?” He wasn’t so fond of the snooty bitch.

“She’s been talking to the press.”

“So what if she talks to the press? They haven’t talked about anything that can hurt us.”

“It’s a matter of time before she starts talking about those paintings.”

“She wouldn’t. That would hurt her.”

“We both know how the unexpected can change everything. If push came to shove, she’d turn on a dime.”

“I want something in return for this job.”

“Sure, you can take her to your little room. Keep her as long as you want.”

“I don’t want her. I want another one. One I can keep for a really long time. Maybe forever.”

“I don’t make bargains.”

“If you want Janet killed, then I get another one to keep.”

A long silence followed. “Who?”

Adrianna. But knowing that wouldn’t meet with approval, he said, “Jessie.”

Another pause. “I don’t want any trails leading back to me.”

“None have yet, have they?”

“No.”

“Fine. Just do it. Tonight.”

Craig closed the phone and put it in his pocket. He only had to wait fifteen minutes before Janet emerged from the elevators. The sound of his footsteps had her raising her gaze from her open purse.

Janet paused for a moment, her expression tight and frightened. “You scared the crap out of me.”

He liked seeing fear in her eyes. She needed to be brought down a peg or two. “Sorry about that.”

“It isn’t like me to be paranoid. What are you doing here?”

He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Janet’s gaze narrowed. “What are you doing here?” she asked again.

Her silk blouse draped open just slightly, revealing a hint of her white breast. Janet had a good body and she liked to flaunt it.

When he didn’t answer, her annoyance grew. “Answer me or get out of my way.”

The challenge in her voice said more than words ever could.
Wimp. Spineless. Twit.

Janet moved toward her car and clicked it open with the remote. She’d dismissed him like he was nothing.

“Don’t walk away from me.”

“Don’t waste my time.”

Rage bolted through his limbs. She was just like everyone else. Always underestimating him.

Damn her! Damn her!

He pulled the .38 from his pocket. “Don’t walk away from me.”

She turned, glanced at the gun. Lifting her chin, she met his gaze. “You don’t have the balls.”

His throat constricted. For just a split second she realized she’d pushed the wrong button and fear washed away the arrogance. He fired. The bullet hit her in the side.

The shot was a quiet echo in the garage. For a moment Janet stopped, her body still. They both glanced down at her side as the bloom of blood blossomed and grew. “What the hell?”

Excitement rolled through him. He fired a second and third time. These bullets struck her in the chest and she fell to the ground. She landed on her knees and then tipped sideways. She hit the ground hard.

Craig’s hands trembled. He’d let his anger get the better of him. He’d made a mess. But he didn’t care right at this moment. Later he would worry. “Don’t ever tell me I don’t have the balls to kill.”

Janet stared up at him, eyes filled with pain and fear. “Please.”

“Please what, Janet?” The fourth bullet struck her between the eyes and killed her instantly.

His rage deserted him and now only consequences rambled in his head. He had visions of Hudson coming after him. The guy was relentless and wouldn’t stop until he was finally dead. He ducked down and pushed Janet’s limp body under her car. Blood smeared his hands and shirt.

The deck’s elevator doors dinged open. A group of hotel staff workers got out. Jessie was in the center, laughing with a coworker. One waiter lighted a cigarette.

Craig wanted to go after Jessie but with Janet’s blood on his hands, he didn’t dare.

He watched her and several friends get into her Jeep and drive away. Damn. This wasn’t fair. He’d earned her. He’d made a deal.

A car horn beeped and he glanced at his hands, dripping with blood.

The time had come to take care of Hudson, and then he’d go after Jessie and Adrianna.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Friday, October 6, 11:00 p.m.

Tess sat on the bar stool at the end of a butcher-block countertop. They were in Alex’s loft condo located in the heart of the city. She sipped her wine and watched with fascination as he chopped an onion at lightning speed. “So this is the best place to eat in town.”

“Absolutely. I generally don’t have time to eat out. Half the time it’s two in the morning when I do eat.”

“And you always cook?”

“Always.”

“Okay, so we’ve covered the food. And we could talk about the weather or we could discuss the elephant in the room.”

“What would that be?”

Alex’s gaze locked on her. Suddenly, she felt oddly warm inside. And she wasn’t thinking about him as Dr. Butler, Robo-Doc, or even Mr. Wizard. He was a man. A man who’d not be a rushed lover. A man who would move over her body slowly, carefully, inspecting every square inch of her.

Tess sipped her wine and worked to keep her voice steady. “The case, of course.”

Alex smiled and she sensed he read her thoughts. Challenge sparked. “What is it that’s bothering you?”

You, you pencil-neck geek. You have no business making me want what I’ve sworn off of.
“The injuries aren’t consistent.”

He stared at her for a moment and blinked as if the pieces of the puzzle just came together. “The fractures on the faces of all three victims. The ones on the left were more pronounced than the ones on the right.”

“The bruising on Tammy’s face really brings this home. And you can also see bruises on her arms. Again some much darker than the others.”

Blue eyes blazed with excitement. “Two killers?”

She nodded, her heart racing. “Yes. One killer is strong. The other weak.”

His gaze darkened. “Or old and young?”

“Male or female.”

Gage noticed the FOR SALE sign in front of Adrianna’s house had been changed to SOLD.

Frowning, he escorted Adrianna up to the front porch of her house. Soft pale light from the iron fixture above shone down on her, giving her skin a luminescent look. She’d slipped off her shoes and was now barefoot, making her a good four inches shorter than him.