by WL Knightly
Table of Contents
Find WL Knightly
Description
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
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About the Author
Copyright
Aquarius
WL Knightly
BrixBaxter Publishing
Contents
Find WL Knightly
Description
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Want More?
About the Author
Copyright
Find WL Knightly
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Description
With the suspicious death of Tad Halston, Detective Darek Blake finds walking the line between NYPD detective and Zodiac member a more daunting task than ever. Hannah Halston, Tad’s sister, refuses to believe the official story that her brother went on a vengeful killing spree. She’s doing her best to clear his name, which brings Darek’s partner, Special Agent Lizzy McNamara, even closer to his criminal past.
Meanwhile, whoever is targeting the Zodiacs has their sights on Logan Miller. His life is complicated enough already, with his struggling career and bitter relationship with an older woman, but when he meets Hannah Halston at her brother’s funeral, lending a sympathetic shoulder turns into so much more. He’s determined to end things with the older woman until she tells him she’s dying. Stuck between a rock and hard place, does he continue his relationship, or go where his heart tells him? Will the killer choose for him?
1
Logan
Logan threw his arm out, blindly reaching for the blaring alarm clock beside his bed. Knocking it to the floor, he cursed and then rolled over to the edge, only to realize it wasn’t the clock at all, but his phone that was making the nagging sound.
Instead of answering right away, he scrubbed his face and rubbed his eyes. Lidia would hang up and call right back; she always did until he answered on Saturday mornings when he didn’t wake up in her bed.
Lidia was his much older girlfriend and what some might call his sugar mama. The two had been together for nearly three years, and not only was she the biggest financer of his sculptures, but she was also his biggest fan.
A quick glance at the date on his phone told him it was rent day, and with the mood she’d been in lately, she probably wasn’t going to let him keep the check from the downstairs donut shop which rented a corner of the building.
She’d found the place for him, an old abandoned firehouse, which was perfect for his needs. He used the garage area for his art studio and lived upstairs. Downstairs, the front offices of the fire station, as well as one of the truck stalls, had been turned into The Firehouse Donut Shoppe. The owner’s specialty, spicy donuts, were a huge hit.
Every month, Logan had to collect their rent check and then bring it to Lidia to sign. At which point, she would either give it to him or deposit it in her own account, depending on her mood.
The phone, which had paused its annoying ring for nearly a whole minute, started again, and this time, he was ready for her. “Hey, gorgeous? How’s my special flower this morning?”
“I’m still a bit under the weather. I was wondering if you’d go down and get the check and bring it over. If they try to give you spicy donuts again, would you please tell them I prefer the plain glazed?”
“They never ask. They just give me a dozen.” The owners had been courteous enough to offer a free dozen every time he collected the check, and while he loved the spicy ones, Lidia always bitched about it.
“I’m sure they won’t mind,” she said. “Just tell them.”
“Okay, I’ll tell them, but I’m not going to be able to come by until later.”
“Why not? It’s Saturday. I didn’t see you at all last night.”
“That’s because you kicked me out after dinner and told me to go home and tinker with my torch.” She’d been a real bitch to him, and it was becoming a pattern. She was thirty years older than he was, she had raised a son, and she’d been married to a man who left her a boatload of money. Despite all that, she had her moments of acting like a child.
She giggled and then made a sympathetic sound. “Aww, poor little baby. Was I mean? Come on over, and I’ll kiss it all better.” Her laughter gave him a sinking feeling, and he didn’t dignify her with a response. He didn’t mind being younger and being pampered, but he didn’t want to be treated like a fucking child.
“I can’t. I told you I have a funeral today.”
She sighed. “Who? That escort friend of yours? The one you were jealous of?”
“I wasn’t jealous of him; I just think it’s bullshit that you called for an escort two months after we got together.” He had come in and caught her with Tad, who was really shocked to see him and left shortly after.
“We weren’t doing anything but having wine and conversation. Besides, you weren’t available.” She liked having other men come around. Sometimes, she and Logan roleplayed to satisfy that craving—he could play along with anything when the money was right—but he wasn’t into including people he knew, especially Tad or one of the other Zodiacs. Recently, she’d gotten to where those games were few and far between.
“All because I had to travel for a show,” he said. “And that’s the thanks I get for ducking out early and bringing you flowers.”
“Oh please. You knew you’d have to share now and then like a good boy. Besides, you know you’re the only one I love. Our relationship has grown.”
He thought to himself how she had to share, too. She wasn’t the only older woman in his life. Being an artist, he’d met his fair share of older, wealthy women who liked to throw their money at him. He caught it, too, every last cent.
Lidia didn’t know anything about that, and over the past year, he’d heard less and less from other women. Mostly because he hadn’t been doing as many shows and had hit a rather long dry spell.
“Yes, our relationship has grown,” he agreed. It wasn’t that he was madly in love with her, but she’d been good to him, and she was special. His love just wasn’t the passionate whirlwind he wanted; it was comfortable and routine.
“Then you’ll come and see me after this funeral?” she asked.
“I’ll have to come back to the studio first and get that check, and I need to make a few calls for supplies. I hope I can sell a few pieces made and sold; I’m strapped for cash.”
“I know I’ve been a little tight with the money, but I’ll make sure you have everything y
ou need.”
What he needed was money. Money to do whatever the hell he wanted with, not just enough to get by on like she’d been giving him. He took a deep breath and knew he’d do a better job convincing her in person, especially when he had her on her back and he was nestled between her legs. “But yeah, I’ll be over.”
“Good. I really didn’t feel like going out. I’ve been rather tired the past few days. I’m afraid that’s why my patience hasn’t been the best. I do hope you can forgive me.” Lidia had a soft, sexy voice; she could be very convincing.
He let out a deep breath. “Of course, baby. I hope you’re okay.” She’d been complaining a lot lately, and her libido was suffering as well.
“Maybe we’ll go out to dinner,” she said. “I might like to fix my hair and dress up for a night on the town. It might make me feel better.”
“That sounds good to me. I’m looking forward to seeing you, whatever you want to do. But I better jump in the shower and get ready.” He ended the call with a kiss into the phone and a few other sweet words that were designed to placate her, and then he cranked up the hot water and stripped down in front of the mirror.
Logan’s hair was a bit too long, and his short-trimmed beard wasn’t getting a trim anytime soon. Lucky for him, funerals weren’t like weddings where you had to look polished. Rough around the edges was okay, and that was the way he intended to stay. Besides, Lidia seemed to like him best this way, and it was the easiest way he could please her.
He flexed his abs and pecs, making the zig-zag lines that made up his Zodiac mark wiggle up and down. He was more concerned with his body, hoping he hadn’t started to show his age or put on a spare tire. No, he still looked good. His art, lifting the heavy sculptures to weld them, still kept him strong.
After the shower, he found his black blazer and contemplated if he should wear it, while he chose a tie. In the end, once he’d found a black pair of pants he’d forgotten Lidia bought him and a dark gray button-down, he decided to put the jacket on.
His stomach growled as he cinched his tie. After slipping on his shoes, he was ready to go, with just a little time to spare.
On his way out, he decided to grab the rent check from the donut shop.
“Hey, it’s my main man, Miller,” Gene, the owner of the shop, said. He always called Logan by his last name and had a warm and friendly smile for him. “What kind of donuts do you want today? You know I’ll hook you up.”
“You better make it half and half; glazed and spicy.”
“Coming right up.” Gene busied himself boxing the complimentary order. “You must be going to share with Lidia today.”
Logan grinned. “Yeah, I think she’s on to me.”
“You’re looking sharp in that suit and tie. Are you going to court or something?” Gene put the last few donuts in the box and then closed it up.
Logan laughed. “Nah, a funeral. An old friend of mine.” He wasn’t going to tell Gene about the incident, knowing he’d heard about it on the news. He didn’t want anyone knowing he’d been mixed up in that in any way.
“Sorry to hear that,” Gene said.
“Thanks.”
Gene turned around and passed him the box, with the rent check on top. “This should do it. And I know you like the spicy, but I tossed in an extra apple with maple bacon. I want you to try it. Tell me what you think. It might just be a new favorite.”
“Sounds good. Thank you. I’ll eat it in the car.”
“Here, have a coffee to wash it down.” He poured him up a cup and put on a lid. “Again, my condolences, man.”
“Appreciate it.” Logan gathered his stuff and gave Gene a wave on the way out. He couldn’t have asked for better neighbors, or renters for that matter. They always had the money on time, and the extra donuts as a bonus were not only a kind gesture, but that morning, would be the only breakfast Logan had time for.
He walked over to his parking space, which was reserved and just outside of his front door. Looking up at the place, he remembered the time Tad came to his door to tell him that someone was fucking with him. He’d also asked about the iron zodiac brands that Logan had made back when they were younger, more specifically his own. What stuck out the most was what he said before he left that night. He’d warned Logan that they all had a target on their backs, meaning the Zodiacs.
He remembered Tad the day that Bay had introduced him to the group. He had seemed so headstrong. Logan had always been close to Bay Collins, who was the group’s fearless leader, but with the others being added, he could fell himself pulling further and further away from Bay, who was his first friend at camp.
Back then, things were so much different. Bay had told them wild tales about his maid, a woman who Logan could only imagine was some kind of witch or gypsy. Bay seemed to love her more than his own mother.
She was into astrology and other types of mystical things like Ouija boards and tarot. She believed in the zodiac signs and that each person carried some specific type of energy that was defined by their birthday. Somehow, Bay was taught that if he channeled that power by forming a circle of friends from each sign, the power they would contain would be enough to assure them all success and good fortune. They’d formed their group and became the Zodiac Society, or Zodiacs for short.
That was just eleven years ago, and while each one was on their different paths in life, most of them were doing okay in their own way. Logan had done all right, too, but he couldn’t help but want to make it big with his originally designed sculptures.
He took a sip from the cup of coffee and then started his car, another little gift from his special lady, and then backed out. As he did, he glanced over, and after shifting gears, he took the bacon donut from the box and gave it a taste.
It melted in his mouth like a sugary piece of art. As good as it was, it killed Logan how Gene had gotten so lucky with one tiny donut that had catapulted his little shop into success. Logan couldn’t seem to move a large sculpture that was worth so much more and wouldn’t be consumed and shit out in a matter of a day.
He washed the donut down and decided that he still loved the spicy the best. He would dip into those after he got out of the funeral. Bacon breath was enough for the occasion. He reached into his console and found a mint and then headed across town to see Tad off for good. He still couldn’t believe the guy had jumped out that window, but then again, men do crazy things when backed into a corner.
2
Darek
Darek stood in the mirror stroking his new beard. It was coming in nicely except for one thin spot on the left, where it looked a bit patchy. He couldn’t remember getting a scar there, but it was the only thing he could think of that might have caused it.
His brand caught his attention. The Sagittarius symbol he’d gotten when he was younger looked like an arrow. It made him think of Tad. He’d been trying not to remember the guy all morning, but he couldn’t help it. Those final minutes of his life, those final seconds, would remain burned into Darek’s mind for all eternity.
Could he have done more to help his old friend? Was there something he said or didn’t say? Why didn’t he pay any attention to the open window?
If that wasn’t enough of a head fuck for him, Hannah Halston, Tad’s sister, had told him and his partner Lizzy about how her brother got his Zodiac mark in Virginia, which only gave Lizzy more fuel to investigate the wrongful imprisonment of Otis Gough. He was the man who had taken the rap for the Zodiacs’ crime, of which Darek himself had been a part.
He stared at the mark that would blow the lid off the entire case and hated that he couldn’t get it off. Darek knew he wasn’t going to be able to keep the arrow hidden forever. He had to either find a way to get rid of it or explain it away in a way that had nothing to do with the clues from the recent killing. He might as well take a cheese grater to the thing, or a blowtorch. It wasn’t going to be easy one way or another.
He went to his closet to pull on a pair of jeans, and just when he had t
hem zipped, his phone rang. He pulled on a shirt and went to see who was calling. “Shit.” He tapped the screen and put the phone to his ear. “Hello, Bay.”
“Don’t sound so enthused, my friend. I was just calling to see if you’re ready for our meeting Monday. This meeting will determine what to expect when we go before the judge. I need you there. It doesn’t look good when one party doesn’t show.”
“I’ll be there. Just make sure I keep the house. That’s all I care about. I’m ready to put this shit behind me and move on so I never have to look at that bitch again.” Every time he thought of her and their ongoing divorce, Darek was grateful he never had any kids with the woman.
“I’m handling that business,” Bay said. “Let’s hope you’re charming the pants off that new partner of yours. It sounds to me like she needs a new hobby.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not easy to deter her when Hannah Halston is still banging down the door to my office trying to clear her brother’s name.”
“You know, if you can’t take care of her, I can.”
“Stay away from her, Bay. She’ll grow tired once she’s passed this mourning phase.”
“Who are you fooling? I know you’ve seen it as well as I have, Darek. When someone loses a sibling or a child, they want whoever is responsible to pay, and if she thinks that anyone other than Tad is responsible for this, she’s going to fight tooth and nail to make sure they rot in hell.”