Killer Scents (13 page)

“Of course I haven’t forgotten. Give me a chance to explain.”

“Becca.” Rick called from the doorway. “Can you look at something for me?”

With her gaze trained on him, she walked away. “I’d be happy to.”

H
e kicked at the dirt road and watched
her disappear through the doorway.
Wow! I didn’t see that coming.
He raked his fingers through his hair. Somehow he’d make her understand, but it would have to wait. They were almost done with the interviews and so far it
hadn’t uncovered anything that might lead them to
The
F
lorist.

“Is everything okay?” Jacob pulled up beside him.

“Oh, yah.” Heat warmed his cheeks. “I guess my mind is someplace else.”

Jacob looked to the empty doorway. “I can see that.”

Randy
quickly changed the subject.
  “W
e’re almost done with your boys.
Is it alright if we
take a look in their bunkhouse next
?
”

“Sure. That’s not a problem.”

“I meant to ask after we left here the last time,
but
did you happen to see or hear that bike again?”

“Nope, I even asked around a bit with no luck.”

Randy pat
ted
his back. “Thanks for all of your help. We’ll try to wrap this up
as soon as possible
.”

He clamped a gloved hand over his mo
u
th to stifle
a
laugh. It seemed almost criminal to be in such a good mood.
Get it together. This could be your biggest challenge yet.
He smirked, patting
his pocket for the umpteenth time.
Thank God for my secret weapon.
A tremor of anticipation brought actual goose bumps to his skin as he went over a mental checklist.

After a
quick look up the road
,
he made his move and reached up to give the light bulb a turn. The doorbell pierced the still of night. He knew it wasn’t loud enough to alert a neighbo
u
r, but
he still held
his breath. He firmed his hold on the package in his hands. A cellophane
-
wrapped flower simply wouldn’t cut it with this guy.

Only a few seconds passed before he was rewarded by a string of curse words
and
the light switch
flickering
on and off several times. The door opened with
the
chain intact.

“Whatever you’re selling, I ain’t interested.”

“I have a delivery for a Mr
.
Kevin Baird. I’ll need a signature, sir.”

“It’s kind of late
for
a delivery
,
don’t you think?” Kevin grumbled, closing the door to unhook the chain.

A bear of a man stood in the doorway with one hand remaining on the door. His dishevelled appearance gave him a cave man air. In the same instant Kevin took the package from him, he pulled out his gun and pressed it against
the guy’s
temple.

“Step back into the house nice and slow or I’ll blow your fucking head off your shoulders right here.”

“What the f...
?
A
re you fucking nuts?”

“Step back
,
” He snarled “
N
ow!”

“Whoa, easy does it, I’m moving.”

The door barely closed behind them
before
Kevin
threw
the box at him, momentarily knocking him off balance. When
he
looked up,
his adversary
smacked a baseball bat against his open palm.

Amused, he chuckled. “Nice move, big guy. I’ll give you to the count of three to put that toy down. You don’t seriously believe you have a hope in
H
ell of using that on me, do you?”

“I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, but you better pray I don’t get my hands on you, because I’ll rip your fucking head off if I do.”

He smirked. “One...two...three...
.
”

The click of his gun filled the space between them, followed closely by the thud of the bat hitting the floor. Each step he took
toward his victim
, Kevin Baird took one back until his calves hit the sofa. With lightning speed, he took the secret weapon from his pocket and plunged the syringe into
Kevin’s
upper thigh. The sudden move knocked
the guy
backwards on the couch
like
a tree being felled.

“Ahh...what the hell?”

His laughter
bounced off the walls
. “Just a little neuromuscular blocking drug, but don’t worry, you won’t miss
out
. You’ll see
and feel
every little
thing
that is about to happen
.
” He put his face close to his. “You just won’t be able to do a damn thing about it.”

Kevin’s eyes grew bright. “You’re
T
he Flor....” His facial muscles froze in mid
-
sentence.

“Oh, I’m sorry, where are my manners
?
” He took the big man’s hand in his and pumped it twice. “Yes, I am
T
he Florist. Nice to meet you.”

He took out rope and duct tape from his
p
ack and held them up
.
“Not that you’ll be giving me a hard time, will you?” He pinched his
victim’s
cheek hard and
then
slapped his face, moving his head from side to side. “Good boy, I didn’t think so.”

The
journal in his hands brought him comfort. “How about I read a little before we get this party started?”

Kevin seems to enjoy the fear he instills in me by going over every detail of his job
as
bouncer and how he bashe
s
skulls. I can see the rage in his eyes,
which is
almost lethal. I fear for the day he turns his anger on me.

The only drawback to drugging him was not being able to see his reaction when he put two and two together and figured out the reason
he was
there.
Oh well, I’ll just have to be happy he hears every word I say.
He put his lips to the big man’s ear and whispered her name.  “There, now you know.”

By the time they stepped out of the last
hot
house
, the sun had begun its descent behind the
buildings
. A frustrating
ly
long
day
turned up nothing. The men were all
sweaty
and tired
and
undoubtedly just as disappointed as
Becca
was.

“Thank you for all of your hard work. Let’s call it a
night
.” Randy rubbed his neck.

Becca walked up the road with Rick and several officers. “I would have bet money we’d find something to lead us to him here.”

The officer blew out a long breath
which
lift
ed
his blond bangs. “He’s bound to slip up.”

“I wonder how many more lives he’ll take before that happens?”

Her question didn’t warrant a response. She just said
a
loud what was on the mind of ever man involved
today
. Thankfully they left before Randy had the opportunity to face off with her again. She definitely wasn’t in the mood for that.

They drove toward the city in silence.

“Before you take the boys back to the shop
d
rop me off at home first.” She suppressed a yawn.

“No way. I don’t think the chief will like that idea too much.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a cop. I think I can take care of myself until you come back. It’ll give me a chance to grab a quick shower.”

“Okay, I don’t like it, but I’ll be back in ten
or
fifteen minutes tops.”

Becca climbed down from the truck and waved to the crew in the back. “Thanks. See you in a few.”

She felt for her gun before trudging up the driveway.
I feel like we took ten giant steps backwards.
Before going in
side
she unlocked the garage door and flicked on the light to find her baby shining in all her chrome glory.
She nodded decidedly and
turned off the light and went into
the
house
.

Each room came to life in a flood of lights as she worked her way through her
place
. “Shit!” Becca pulled out her gun and cocked it.

On her pillow laid another perfect purple rose, but no note. He didn’t need one. Becca knew exactly who left it on her bed. Her heart hammered against her rib cage.
The bastard was in my house.
She hunkered down with her gun raised, both hands holding it steady as she retraced her steps back to the kitchen. With her back up against the wall, she took a couple of deep, steadying breaths and closed her eyes.

Footsteps on the back landing set her heart racing. She slid along the wall
and took aim
. The click of the
door
prompted
her
to
jump out. “I’ve got a gun. Put your hands up where I can see them.”

“Whoa there
,
Becca, it’s me, Rick.”

Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Holy crap, you scared the shit out of me.” She blinked back the threat of tears.

“What’s with the gun?”

“Our
killer
left me another gift. The son-of-a-bitch was in my house.”

Rick’s stature grew rigid. “We better call it in.”

Becca opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. She’d already set herself up for a good scolding. “I’m so sorry, Rick. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”

He shrugged. “I can take it. 
Y
ou’re okay,
that’s all that really matters
.” He winked and keyed in the number.

Why do I always resist protocol? First the bar
and
now this?
She
grit
ted
her teeth.
Boy am I in for a blast.

“What were you thinking, Becca?” Randy paced her kitchen floor.

She hated being the reason for his anger, but she never asked for him to come. He
just happened to be
with Chief Thomson when he
’d
got
ten
the call.