Obsession (11 page)

“You need protection, Jess.”

She laughed; this time it was real. “I might be just a profiler, but the last time I qualified at the firing range, I was considered an expert there, too. You don’t need to worry about me, chief. I can take care of myself.”

“I take it you’re armed.” If she wasn’t, she needed to be.

“And dangerous. Now let’s go. Before I go without you.” She headed for the door, giving him one last warning over her shoulder. “I have a reputation for failing to acknowledge the chain of command, you know.”

Patterson would be livid when he found out they were nosing around in his jurisdiction again. The mayor and numerous council members had confided that one asset that set Dan apart from the competition for appointment to chief of police was his ability to inspire teamwork among his peers and subordinates alike. Somehow that skill had eluded him on this case. He’d infuriated a ranking member of the task force and he had no control whatsoever over Jess.

Worse, she was in trouble, more so than perhaps even she realized and he had no control over that either. 

Chapter Eight

City Parking Garage

“What’s your take on Harris?”

Ignoring the question, Lori Wells slid into the passenger seat of Harper’s sporty black Rogue. Maybe if she ignored him, he would let it go.

The SUV was new, a big change from the minivan he drove just six months ago. The sporty look extended to the interior with front bucket seats and a streamlined dash including lots of sleek gadgetry. Just beyond the console, reality staked a claim in the rest of the vehicle.

The child-safety seat and scattered toys in the backseat reminded her that he was not just her colleague and a man interested in a personal relationship with her, but the father of a young child. Though he was divorced, Lori was well aware how relationships with divorced fathers of young children ended. Badly. His ex-wife would always be his son’s mother, consequently deeply entangled in his life. More often than not, one or the other used the kid to make a point or get their way. Maybe it shouldn’t, but that major detail prevented Lori from giving in to the feelings he so easily stirred in her.

Her career came first anyway.

She didn’t need that kind of messy complication.

Since Harper was assigned to Crimes Against Persons and she served on the Terrorists Task Force, a personal relationship wouldn’t be a real issue. But her goal was to eventually move to Crimes Against Persons in order to work cases like this one. Why start something she couldn’t finish? She had priorities and as hot as this guy was—she stole a look at his profile from the corner of her eye—she had no intention of getting distracted. Sex was one thing, a relationship entirely another. And Harper wasn’t a no-strings sex kind of guy. He’d liked being married and he wanted more children.

At twenty-six, Lori’s five-year plan didn’t include either.

He started the engine but didn’t move from the parking slot, waiting for her to answer his question. She might as well get it over with.

“Her reputation speaks for itself.”

Harper backed out of the slot. “Patterson is pissed at her, that’s for sure.”

Lori stared out her window as he exited the garage, mostly to avoid looking at him. His comment about Patterson confirmed that no matter the date on the calendar, some things hadn’t changed. Men still believed they ruled the world and women. Though often respected and admired, women weren’t supposed to cross certain boundaries. That Harris had challenged Patterson’s conclusions had crossed that testosterone driven line.

“You disagree with her strategy?” Lori stared at him full on now. Harper was only four years older than her; his thirtieth birthday was next month. How could he embrace that good old boy mentality?

With the ease and confidence of a lifelong Birminghamian, Harper navigated morning traffic. As she had done, he took his time getting around to an answer. “She’s right. Patterson is wrong.”

“Is that how you really feel or are you saying that because you think it’s what I want to hear?” She narrowed her gaze and watched for an indication that he was patronizing her.

He flashed her a grin. Her pulse sped up. She looked away. That night should never have happened.

“You really think I would compromise my professional principles to make you happy?”

Now she was the one pissed off. “You mean those principles that allowed you to fuck me that night after the shooting?”

He said nothing. Took the fifth, apparently. Lori shook her head and turned her attention back to the passing landscape. She resisted the urge to rotate her shoulder. The ache wasn’t real. The injury had been nothing more than a nick. The bullet had grazed her upper arm, a little rip to the deltoid muscle. A few stitches. An ugly bandage. Not a big deal. Except the shot had been meant for Harper. She’d thrown her whole body at him to get him out of the way. It wasn’t like she’d had a snowball’s chance in hell of moving the guy otherwise.

After the perp was in custody, Harper had insisted on staying with her at the ER and then driving her home. Things had gotten out of control from the moment he walked her to her door.

Lori banished the memories.

He made the turn onto Montclair Road. “I think your memory is a little foggy.” His wide, strong hands maneuvered the vehicle with the same ease and precision that he had guided her that night. “I
fucked
you that night because we both wanted it.”

That was such a guy excuse. But he was right. Damn. She closed her eyes and blocked the images. Six months and he still made her throb with need just being this close, listening to his voice, smelling that subtle sexy aroma that was as much him as the Kenneth Cole Reaction he wore. She’d even bought a bottle the last time she was at Sak’s. She sprayed it on her sheets sometimes. But she would never give him the satisfaction of knowing that every time they were this close she wanted to rip off his clothes.

“I still want you.” 
      Lori crossed her legs and checked the calendar on her phone. She would die before she let him pick up on the full extent of the power he wielded over her with nothing more than his presence.

“Annette Denton shouldn’t take long.” When Lori had made the appointment the chief and Harris were scheduled to conduct the interview. She hoped the chief’s ex wouldn’t have a problem with the change.

“We can catch the Yorks before lunch and then dig into that long list of extended family and friends,” he offered.

She should appreciate that he had moved on from the subject of their one-night stand, but somehow she resented that, too. 

“Looks like the husband is home,” he announced as he guided the SUV into the Denton’s driveway.

“Awesome.” Lori didn’t look forward to meeting with the man. He was arrogant and completely uncooperative. “You can talk to him. I’ll take the wife.”

“Sounds like a female chauvinist decision to me. Because you’re a woman you get to interview the female?”

Lori released her seat belt and reached for the door handle. She flashed Harper a big smile the way he’d done her a few minutes ago. “Don’t say you didn’t get fucked today.”

She got out, shoved the door shut and strode up the winding walk. Harper didn’t hurry to catch up with her. Knowing him, he would say he was enjoying the view from a few paces behind her. He was a good detective but this assignment would have been a lot easier for her if someone else had been picked for the task force.

Maybe this was the universe’s payback for allowing that night to happen.

It would not happen again.

The Denton home was large, stately and probably valued at about two million, even in today’s crappy real estate market. Similar homes lined the street. Two matching BMWs sat in the circular drive. 

Lori pressed the doorbell and the door opened immediately. Brandon Denton had been waiting for their arrival. He glared first at Lori, then at Harper. “Where’s Burnett?”

Harper exchanged a glance with her to confirm she wasn’t taking this guy on. “Chief Burnett was called away, sir. Detective Wells and I will be conducting your follow-up interviews.”

Without acknowledging the explanation, Denton stepped back for them to enter. Once inside he led the way to the great room. Annette Denton waited there. She sat on one end of the white sofa, a sea of color swirling around her in the form of lush carpets and bold walls. The chairs and sofa were stark white, an almost shocking contrast. Lori suspected that the white seating served as a canvas to display the owners of the home. Both were beautiful, dressed in lavish attire and with egos to match. How had the chief ever fallen for this woman? She could be nice but her entire existence seemed to revolve around money.

“You’ve found something new?” Annette asked. 

“We have a new detail we need to run by you,” Lori explained. “I’m sorry to have to intrude on your morning.”

Annette managed a small, weary smile. “Don’t apologize. I’m thankful there’s new information. I want you to find my daughter. Nothing related to the search for her is an inconvenience.”

Mr. Denton sat down by his wife and gestured to the two chairs directly adjacent to them.

“Does your daughter have a friend, acquaintance or relative named Tim?” Harper asked. “It could be as seemingly insignificant as someone to whom she might have run into in the course of picking up dry cleaning, stopping by the store for milk or at her favorite restaurant.”

After due consideration, Annette shook her head. “Not a single person I can think of.”

When Mr. Denton said nothing, Harper asked him outright. “No one named Tim that you’re aware of, sir?”

Denton shook his head. “We supplied a complete list of her friends and family already. Burnett has this information. Why has he sent the two of you to backtrack?” He glared at his wife. “I knew we couldn’t depend on him. We should have hired that private investigator as I suggested.”

The agony that pinched his wife’s face tugged at Lori. “Sir, I’m confident there’s nothing anyone can do that we’re not already doing.” When Denton aimed a fierce glare at her, she met it with equal intensity in her own. “Chief Burnett was able to obtain the assistance of one of the Bureau’s top profilers. She has already made great headway in broadening the scope of our investigation.” To Mrs. Denton, she added, “We will find your daughter.”

The interview lasted a few minutes more with Lori reviewing the original interview questions. No new answers. She feared that would be the case with most on the list to be re-interviewed. If a single bit of data were gained, the effort would not be for naught.

Harper didn’t speak as they drove away from the home. He had something on his mind. Lori could sense the frustration simmering in him. She waited. Still he said nothing.

“What?” she demanded.

“You made that lady a promise.” This he said without making eye contact.

“I didn’t say we’d find her alive.” She winced at the words. God, the idea of finding one or more of those girls dead was unacceptable but the possibility grew stronger with every passing hour. They had to find them soon. Maybe she shouldn’t have given that assurance, but the families needed something to hang onto.

“But we will find them alive.” Harper braked for a red light. She met his gaze. “I refuse to believe otherwise.”

“Then why are you busting my chops about making that promise?” What did he want from her? And why the hell couldn’t she control herself around him?

“Saying it to you is different from saying it to the vic’s family.”

“Okay, okay. Point taken.” She still had a lot to learn. Lori readily admitted that. In truth, this case was the hardest, in terms of emotions, she’d been assigned. She needed it to turn out right. “You really believe we’ll find them alive?”

“When you feel strongly enough about something,” he went on, his eyes, the sound of his voice preventing her from looking away, “you make it happen.”

Was he answering her question about the case or talking about this personal relationship he was hell bent on initiating? She wanted to warn him that she would not be badgered into a relationship but she couldn’t do it. Whether he was talking about the case or about them, his words weren’t prompted by his male ego…he meant what he said and what he said came from his heart.

Lori was in serious trouble.

Chapter Nine

Tuscaloosa, Noon

Jess surveyed the mobile home court as Dan rapped on the door of the small trailer rented by Kelli Moran. Judging by the shabby landscaping and state of disrepair of the manufactured homes lining the one narrow drive, Shady Court lived up to the boast on its welcome sign proclaiming date of establishment as 1968. She doubted luxury living was the motive for life at Shady Court. According to Dan, the number of drug busts among the dozen or so rentals was matched only by the domestic disputes calls.

In jarring contrast, many of the vehicles nestled close to the small porches and stoops were undeniably high-end. The mark of dirty money. Kelli Moran, on the other hand, drove a VW Bug. Not the resurrected version of the 90’s, but an original, ironically from the 60’s. A rusty yellow with a license plate registered to her and this address. According to Reanne’s supervisor at the sandwich shop, Kelli was her closest friend.

“She’s got to be here,” Jess argued when Dan sent her a doubtful look. “Her manager said she wasn’t scheduled to work today and her car is right there.” Jess pulled off her sunglasses and swabbed at the perspiration threatening to drip down her forehead. She had spent far too many years in the northeast to acclimate to this heat.

Dan knocked again.

A minute passed, every confounded second ticking off in her head. Jess rolled her eyes. Enough waiting. She marched up to the door and banged like she meant it, not that polite knock Dan had employed. 

“Miss Moran, I know you’re in there. We need to speak to you.”

A door opened across the lane and a head poked out. One look and the guy quickly snatched his head back inside and slammed the door.