In Too Deep (3 page)

All eyes focused on Erin, and Patricia noted the red in her cheeks.

Before Erin could voice her thoughts, Jeff broke in. “We don’t actually think Adams would harm Mac, do we?”

Patricia signaled Gary to respond and he adjusted his glasses before speaking. “At this time we have no reason to believe Ms. Adams would cause harm to Detective McKenzie. Her menace appears to extend solely to males. She has never been known to physically harm females.”

“So you’re saying Adams will try to fuck Mac senseless, but she won’t hurt her?” Stewart was enjoying this way too much.

“In a matter of speaking, yes.” Gary remained calm and unamused.

Ruiz stopped pacing, apparently impatient with the discussion. “Right, let’s bring Erin up to speed.” He tossed several files down on the table in front of the detectives and motioned for Patricia to speak.

Anticipating her, Stewart whipped open the files, displaying grim color photos of the three dead men.

“As you all know, all three of our victims were killed in the same fashion,” Patricia said. “All were taken to a private location, a hotel in Mr. Bale’s case, where we assume they were promised sexual favors. Then they were injected in the armpit with a tranquilizer.” She glanced at each detective. “Our lab has found traces of nylon fibers on the wrists of every victim. It seems they were bound tightly and effectively with nylons, probably to a bedpost, to make the task of injecting them easier.”

Ignoring a crass remark from Stewart, she continued, “We have also found traces of the date rape drug, GHB or Liquid X, in all our victims. We all know this incapacitates an individual and in most cases leads to unconsciousness. However, in our victims only a small amount was used. Not enough to render them unconscious. The drug was most likely given in a drink soon after the victims encountered our suspect, just enough to get their guard down.”

She paused to sip some water, then wrapped up her part of the briefing. “The injected tranquilizer is one used primarily on horses. It rendered our victims completely defenseless, causing them to lose the use of their limbs and sending them in and out of consciousness.” She indicated a picture of the first victim. “Fortunately for these men, the stabbing of the genitalia was postmortem.”

Why?
Patricia lapsed into thought as Stewart and Hernandez took their cue from Ruiz and picked up the briefing.
Why take the time to mutilate if you don’t have the guts or desire to inflict the wounds while the victims are alive?
It was obviously done for a reason, to make a strong statement. The stabbings were either motivated by sheer hatred for these men or they were intended to mislead, to make it appear the crimes were acts of rage. She tuned in as Jeff Hernandez went over the postmortem details.

“Each victim was found in an isolated desert area on the outskirts of the valley, all three within a five-mile radius. Cause of death was an execution-style shot to the head, and ballistics concurs that the same 9mm was used in all three cases. Shortly after death, each victim was stabbed a few times in his penis and scrotum.”

Silence descended, broken only by the sound of Stewart chomping on his gum. Wasting no time, he took over from his colleague. “The only things we’ve found at the scene are the guys’ pants and wallets. Robbery was not a motive here. The chick leaves hundreds of bucks plus credit cards in these guys’ wallets.” He continued smacking the gum and looked around the room at his fellow detectives. “It’s a message, people. She’s saying loud and clear that she doesn’t give a fuck about their money. She doesn’t need it or want it.”

“I agree,” Ruiz cut in. “The suspect knows these men are wealthy. They’ve all tried to use their wealth and power against her.”

“Yes, this is the most important aspect of this case for you, McKenzie.” Patricia cast a brief glance in Erin’s direction. Light green eyes met hers, their hue startling her momentarily. But Erin didn’t seem to notice the unsettling effect she’d had. “The fact that Adams knew each of these men and had verbally threatened them is the main reason she’s our number-one suspect.”

“How did she know them?” Erin asked.

“All three victims were members of an all-male, high-society-type club that tried to shut La Femme down by revoking Adams’s liquor license,” Patricia replied. “They also tried to ban the lesbian films she produced from being sold in local stores by claiming they were pornographic. Obviously, Adams became pissed off.”

“Enough of a reaction to make her kill these guys?” Erin looked dubious. “It’s so extreme. More like something a man would do.”

Patricia smiled inwardly, remembering a time not so long ago when she would have thought the same thing. But hundreds of cases, and seeing the worst of people day in and day out, had jaded her. Women were capable of murder, especially crimes that involved killing from a distance. Women were less likely to kill with their hands, avoiding strangulation or stabbing. More often, they shot or poisoned their victims.

“Witnesses in a Valle Luna restaurant overheard Adams threaten the men as they dined with their wives one evening in April,” she said. “Apparently she threatened to kill and castrate each of them if they continued to blacklist her.”

Erin cringed slightly. “Assuming Adams is the killer, what is it that I’m going in for? You want evidence tying her to the victims? Or do you just want me to get her talking—strike up a rapport, gain her trust?”

Ruiz stopped walking and leaned on the table, both hands flat in front of him, supporting his small stature. “Get anything you can. Get her bragging. A confession would be great.”

“So, I’m wearing a wire on Saturday?”

With a quick glance at Patricia, Ruiz said, “Yes. However, if at any point you feel it unsafe to wear it, if she gets too friendly, discard it immediately.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Detective Henderson will also be in the club. She’ll be on three-way, so she’ll be able to hear you and also communicate with the surveillance team outside if necessary.” He stepped back from the table. “You’ll be meeting up with our sound guy along with your liaison tonight. It’s probably best if they come by your place. That okay?”

“Liaison?”

“To help you prepare for your assignment.” Ruiz restacked the files. He adjourned the group until the next briefing on Friday morning, stating the obvious. “Any new information—McKenzie gets to hear about it on Friday. I want her as prepared as possible.”

Stewart strolled toward the door. “Guess the next time I see you, you’ll be a full-fledged dyke.” The comment was directed at Erin, but before she could respond, Patricia moved to stand next to her and stared down Stewart.

With Patricia by her side, Erin said, with a sly smirk, “You better hope so, Detective Stewart. I know you need all the help you can get on this case.”

Stewart mumbled a derogatory comment under his breath and eyed both women before stomping away.

Erin turned toward Patricia and gave an audible sigh of relief. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Patricia lifted her files. “He’s just jealous that you’ll get more girls than he ever could.”

Erin laughed. “I don’t know about that.”

Patricia held the door as they exited the conference room. Watching Erin walk ahead, she felt her heart rate quicken. The younger woman was very attractive, with strong, agile legs and a perfectly rounded backside. Not to mention her ample breasts and striking face.

Dragging her thoughts back to the job, she said, “He is one damn good detective, though.”

“So I’ve heard,” Erin said doubtfully.

Patricia smiled. Erin McKenzie certainly had a mind of her own. It was an attractive characteristic, something else their main suspect would find appealing.

*

Erin eyed her vodka and ice. She was already on her second and she hadn’t even been home an hour. At least with this glass she had taken the time to add a lemon twist, unlike the first, which she’d gulped down before it even chilled. She had been drinking more lately, her loneliness becoming unbearable. But she didn’t want to focus on that.

She took a sip and thought of her day. It had been a rough one, spent trying to get up to speed on this case and arm herself with information on their suspect. And the night didn’t promise to be any more relaxed, with the imminent visit of her liaison and the sound guy. She plopped down on a leather sofa. It was cold on her bare legs and unforgivingly stiff from lack of use. Unable to get comfortable, she stood and tugged at the maroon mesh athletic shorts that matched her gray and maroon Arizona State T-shirt. She decided, instead, to sit on the floor.

The house was brand new and virtually unused, especially evident in the new-smelling carpet. She ran her hand along its surface, making a track against the soft grain. The four-thousand-square-foot home contained the finest in furniture and décor, but to her it seemed empty. She hated its coldness and spent as much time away from it as possible.

She fumbled with the remote for the large plasma screen TV. She seldom turned the damn thing on and had no idea how to use the controls. It had been her husband who constantly wanted to replace their electronic equipment with the latest models and insisted they have only the best of everything, regardless of Erin’s preferences.

The thought of Mark drew a sigh from her. After he made partner at his law firm they had seen less and less of each other, until it seemed they were merely coexisting under one roof. Yet he’d still made sure their home and vehicles were top of the line, in case he ever needed to show them off. Mark was all about appearances and Erin had been his trophy, another disregarded possession among many.

They’d managed to stay married for six years, but for the last two Erin had lived in her own room. The new house had provided her with her own wing as well. They’d only lived in it for six months when they decided to separate. Mark had moved out two weeks ago and Erin still hadn’t processed her mixed feelings about her failed marriage. Her job was the perfect distraction; she spent so much of her time on assignment or at her desk, she could avoid thinking about her personal life. It was easier that way. To think about it brought pain and the sting of betrayal. Mark’s mistress in Austin was no secret to her. She only wondered why it had taken him so long to decide on a divorce.

Money was the obvious consideration. But for a lawyer, Mark seemed to be taking his time over the property split. He said he didn’t want things to get nasty, and he didn’t want to hurt her. Erin took another gulp of her vodka. Mark’s behavior didn’t hurt her anymore. She had simply stopped caring. What got to her was the loneliness, the thought that she was missing out on something truly special, somewhere, somehow. That’s what drove her to drink. Was this all there was to life? A career, a meaningless marriage, and a big, empty house?

She mashed more buttons on the remote and suddenly the DVD she had put in began to play. It was one of the movies Adams’s company had produced. Erin had removed a box of them from Homicide, much to the disappointment of some of the male detectives who were enjoying the investigative chore of watching them.

This particular one was titled
Hearts Afire
and it appeared from the cover to be one of the milder movies. Erin had figured she’d better start off slow and easy. Crossing her legs in front of her, she focused on the screen. She had mentally prepared herself to be shocked by watching two women have sex, but ten minutes into the film her reservations were long gone. Completely engrossed in the plot, she made herself more comfortable by stretching out on her belly and propping her head up onto her fists.

The story was incredible and she was soon rooting for the two women to proclaim their love for one another. In fact, she became so involved that she found herself on her feet, pacing in front of the TV and laughing giddily when the women finally became intimate. Completely frozen in amazement, she watched as they made love. Incredibly, she was not uncomfortable in any way. Instead, she was intrigued by the spectacle, and when the story came to an end, she hurriedly dug through the box and grabbed another, titled
Leather Lasses.
She slid it into the player and stood waiting for it to begin. But no sooner had the title credits rolled than the doorbell rang.

“Shit.” It was undoubtedly her colleagues. Erin had completely lost track of time.

She grabbed the remote and pushed a button to make the DVD stop, but it didn’t work. Two women in leather appeared on screen. One aggressively grabbed the other and kissed her passionately. Deciding that this could not be left on in front of her guests, she killed the power to the TV, leaving the DVD on and continuing to play. The kissing women disappeared as the screen went black.

The doorbell chimed again and she ran to the door and yanked it open hurriedly to find J.R. Stanford standing next to an attractive woman. She should have known it would be J.R.; he had worked sound on her last narcotics assignment. He grinned at her in the devilish way that only he could and elbowed the woman next to him to get her to turn all the way around to face the door.

Erin began a greeting, but trailed into silence, startled to find herself staring at Patricia Henderson. The detective’s thick auburn hair fell heavily in soft waves onto her shoulders and she was wearing a green blouse and blue jeans. She looked strikingly beautiful, completely unlike her more conservative work persona. In the light of the setting sun, the eyes that met Erin’s were a mesmerizing blue green and they shone with something Erin could not read. She felt surprised and excited in a strange way.