Faces of Evil [2] Impulse (12 page)

Jess faced forward and glared at the vehicle in front of them to prevent Burnett reading her emotions. She was damned close to her wit’s end with him and her family. Not to mention Gant and the Bureau in general. “You cannot tell me where to stay.”

She couldn’t buy a house until she sold her house in Virginia. But she could get an apartment. Maybe not tonight but tomorrow. Except she doubted there would be time. A hotel would be fast and easy, no time wasted.

They were wasting time now.

The search would continue all night and she should be out there. He should, too. She glared at Burnett’s profile. “We should be working with the search commander.”

“Forget it. And, for the record, I’m not telling you anything, Jess.” He met her glower head on for just long enough to emphasize his statement. “As your superior, I’m giving an order.”

He’d pushed her to officially accept the position and now he thought he was going to control her personal life, too. She would just see about that. He couldn’t make her stay at his house any more than Gant could pressure her off this case even if she had to investigate as a civilian. Men were the bane of her existence.

“As my superior,” she informed him, “what you’re suggesting would not only jeopardize both our positions in the department, it could jeopardize this case from a prosecution standpoint. Spears is extremely intelligent. If we’re lucky enough to catch him and have enough evidence to charge him, he will twist our every move to make us look incompetent and to somehow taint and discredit every step of our investigation.” Let him outmaneuver that argument!

Eric Spears was more than intelligent, he was cunning. Jess wasn’t willing to take the risk. He’d already shown her – he’d shown them all – just what he could do given even half a chance.

Jess closed her eyes. How could Gant, or anyone else, believe the allegations Spears had suggested?

“The risk is necessary.”

Her eyes snapped opened. “I know you didn’t just say that.” Considering the length of time he’d taken to answer, she’d expected better than that. “And what about perception, Burnett? Fraternization is an unpleasant word in the workplace. It prompts all sorts of even more unpleasant problems. Sexual harassment allegations, EEOC complaints, erosion of the chain of command.” She shook her head adamantly. “That would be asking for trouble. The whole department is going to be watching us, making judgments. It’s out of the question.”

If she was a man they wouldn’t be having this conversation. Burnett would respect her ability to take care of herself. End of story. God, she hated that whole male protector thing.

He kept quiet; apparently he’d tuned her out.

“This is not high school, Burnett,” she pressed. “You’re not star quarterback anymore with all your buddies following your every call on the field. You’re the chief of police and every single cop in the department, no matter the rank, no matter how much he likes or respects you, is watching and waiting for a mistake to pounce on. It’s human nature. We’re only a famine away from eating our young.”

The silent treatment continued.

She folded her arms over her chest. “The Holiday Inn works for me.”

“I won’t argue with you, Jess. I’ve made my decision. You will be my guest for the duration.”

Where was the anger? The frustration? He made the statements way too calmly. She started to demand a better answer, then the answer hit her. He was scared. Scared for her. Well, she was scared, too. Scared for her sister and her family. Scared for anyone Spears might target because of her. Scared and confused and frustrated and. . .

A new thought poked through the tangle of emotions. This was exactly what Spears wanted. He wanted her to feel
this
. Helpless, confused and afraid. As twisted and sadistic as he was, he understood that he did not possess the power to make her fear him, not on the level he needed anyway. The one true fear that throbbed under her skin and deep in her chest was that he would hurt her family.

Or someone he presumed was close to her.

Like Lori and poor unsuspecting Belinda Howard.

And Burnett.

Spears understood that simple truth about her.

Jess turned to Burnett, the impact hitting home. Spears had already made the connection between her and Burnett. He had done that two days ago. Just to taunt them both, he’d sparred via text with Burnett. He’d goaded Burnett with the idea that he wasn’t taking care of Jess.

No one needed to protect Jess. Spears had no desire to kill her – at least not yet. Not until he had tortured her sufficiently. And he’d only just begun. The best way to protect her family and anyone Spears hadn’t connected to her yet was to stay clear. Knowledge was power, the less she gave him the better.

In Burnett’s case staying clear wasn’t an option. The only way to protect him was to watch him every minute. Her professional reputation was already tarnished. What was one more thing for folks to talk about?

Burnett’s reputation could take the heat. His life was far more important to Jess than his career.

“Whatever you say, chief.”

Dunbrooke Dr., Mountain Brook, 8:55 p.m.

Jess had caved way too easily. Dan wasn’t sure why, but he wasn’t going to question it. He was just glad as hell she hadn’t fought him for once. He would protect her whether she liked it or not. He couldn’t trust her not to put herself at risk on this one. The case was too personal to her.

She’d rolled her suitcase to the bedroom farthest from his. Not that he could exactly blame her after that middle-of-the-night kiss he’d laid on her. Was that only three nights ago?

Between the last case they’d worked together and then this one, he’d lost all concept of time. Every minute was consumed with an urgency that took priority over all else. He’d only checked in with his step-daughter twice. Guilt settled heavily onto his shoulders. The ordeal Andrea had survived left her badly shaken, perhaps more so than he or her mother realized. He wasn’t Andrea’s father but he loved her and he needed time to be there for her. He also needed to get Jess onboard with her new position. He sensed that she still didn’t see that aspect of her future.

But there was no time for either. . . not until Wells and Howard were found and this freak of nature was stopped.

Jess’s concerns about the legal and ethical issues related to her being his guest were not a priority for him just now. Whatever the ramifications, he would deal with those when this was done.

He checked the fridge for something quick and easy to prepare. Stopping by the Publix was one of those menial chores he hadn’t bothered with in a couple of weeks. Maybe he could call in a pizza. It wasn’t a glamorous meal but he doubted Jess was feeling any more glamorous than he was.

His gaze landed on the bag waiting on the top shelf in the fridge. That would work. Something else to feel guilty about.

He grabbed the bag Gina Coleman, Birmingham’s top reporter and a friend, had dropped off last night and sat it on the counter. A feast from Taziki’s. Classic Greek salad, basmati rice and grilled chicken breast. His favorite. Gina had reveled in describing each dish with sensual words and teasing body language.

A promise to have dinner with his parents had prevented him from sharing the meal with her. Just as well. He suspected Gina’d had more than dinner on her mind. She was without doubt even more pissed that he’d sent the department PR liaison to meet with her this afternoon to discuss Detective Wells’ abduction and the suspected connection to Spears.

She shouldn’t hold it against him since he’d been at a crime scene, but that completely understandable excuse still wouldn’t prevent her from being miffed.

He pulled two dinner plates from the rack and arranged the rice and chicken. A quick zap in the microwave and then he’d add the salad. While he waited for the food to warm he checked his cell. A text from Hogan relaying more disappointing news from the search commander. They’d found nothing other than a few squatters in the search of abandoned warehouses and buildings.

Another text, this one from Gina with a solitary question mark as the content.

He didn’t have it in him to reply.

How had so much changed in five days?

Two weeks ago if Gina had showed up at his door in a slinky black dress and ultra-high heels he would have blown off the dinner engagement with his parents and had Gina as an appetizer.

Their relationship outside police business was not exactly personal. It was more an extension of who they were on the job. She respected him; he respected her and they were both too busy for the couple’s thing beyond engaging in the occasional satisfying round of sex. No commitments. Still, he suspected she had. . . expectations. Expectations that went beyond what he could offer.

The fact that he hadn’t felt the need to make any offer last night was out of character. His sexual appetite had never fallen below the ravenous range. Admittedly since taking the post as chief of police, time had been an issue but he’d never failed to rise to the challenge when the right, mutually appealing opportunity presented itself.

The microwave dinged. Dissecting his manhood would have to wait. That suited him since the reason he’d lost interest in Gina or anyone else was currently making him crazy.

He removed the second plate and deposited it next to the other on the counter.

Might as well admit it right now, pal
. A good, hard look at the reality of the past few days would narrow the problem down to one defining moment.

Jess’s return.

Andrea’s abduction had obviously played a large role. As had the other missing teens. He was immensely thankful that all five had been found alive.

Usually a tough day left him hungry for sex. The physical outlet helped him deal with the frustration of his position. But not this time. This time it all boiled down to
her
.

Analyzing the impact Jess’s return had wielded on his life, particularly his sex life, was another bad idea.

He added salad and pita bread to the plates. Grabbing the empty containers and the bag, he walked through the mudroom, paused long enough to disarm the security system, then stepped out the back door. Outside, he tossed the trash into the collection receptacle.

Before going back in, he surveyed the street, looking for any unfamiliar vehicles. Spears had been damned busy. In less than twenty-four hours he had abducted two women, one being a well-trained detective.

The one thing Spears hadn’t managed was further contact with Jess beyond the message on the wall at the crime scene. The flowers contained Howard’s business card, but no personal note to Jess. No text messages from disposable phones.

As much as Dan wanted to be grateful for that he recognized that it only meant Spears was up to something else.

Add to that the news Gant had delivered. How could Spears have committed murder in Jess’s neighborhood back in Virginia last night, left that message, and then rushed here by morning to abduct Wells and then Howard?

Didn’t seem possible. Unless, the guy had an associate, as Jess had suggested. Basically, they had nothing except four witnesses who had identified Spears and the certainty that his goal was to torture Jess.

That left them with no place to go until he made his next move.

Circles. That was where they were going. Running around in circles sifting through haystacks in search of the proverbial needle.

The lab was working overtime to analyze the evidence from the floral shop, the Liberty Park Lane house and the Wells’ home. So far, they had no matches on prints. There were so many at all three places that, for now, hoping for a hit from one database or the other was the best they could anticipate.

“Bastard.”

Back inside, security system rearmed, Dan returned to the kitchen to find Jess already seated at the island and digging in. She still wore that dress that had bowled him over this morning. Ivory and form-fitting. And the shoes. He was a sucker for a pair of super high heels. Especially when paired with legs like hers.

What in the hell are you doing, Burnett?

Digging that hole deeper and deeper.

She looked up. “Any news from the search commander?”

“Zilch. Relief teams are continuing through the night. Griggs reported the same for his crew.” He exhaled a heavy breath. “They’re determined to cover as much ground as possible as quickly as possible.”

Fork halfway to her mouth, Jess paused, seeming lost in thought. “No matter how hard we’ve looked at cases attributed to the Player, we found nothing on where he kept his victims. We drew conclusions based on the conditions of the bodies but that’s it. Makes sense that he would hold them in a place where he wasn’t likely to be disturbed.” She lowered the fork back to her plate. “He delivered each body to a place separate from the abduction site or the murder scene – not that we ever located a single one of the murder scenes. He keeps it all separate and there are never any mistakes.”

“Seemed to be a number of mistakes today.” That was as far as Burnett was prepared to go with the are-you-sure concept. He trusted Jess’s instincts. And, frankly, her conclusions were the only ones on the table.

“Exactly. His MO is different.” She shook her head. “But then, so is his end game. I don’t think it’s about the victims. . . it’s a challenge directed at me. I keep thinking maybe he’s punishing me for getting so close.” She stared at the food as if she’d suddenly lost her appetite. “I know it’s possible I could be wrong. . .”

He waited for her to continue; didn’t dare throw in his two cents until he heard her out. This was hurting her badly enough without any help from him.

“If this is some copycat or accomplice as Manning and Gant suggested, then why does he look enough like Spears to have witnesses identifying him that way? Eric Spears has no siblings or close blood relatives. Not any that we were able to find.” She frowned. “I don’t know where that leaves us.”

The misery in her voice tugged at him. “Eat,” he ordered. “Get Spears out of your head for a few hours.”

And pray that Lori Wells and Belinda Howard survive the night
.