by W L Knightly
“Well, I’m not going to sit around with false hope, which is why I want to find Mia before I tell her family,” Bay said. “Lila will need answers. I want to make sure I have some kind of closure for her.”
“I’m not sure I can help,” Darek said. “I need to focus on what Lizzy and I have cooking. If I’m going to keep walking this thin line, I need to make sure that my focus stays where it is.”
Lane spoke up. “What if we go and find his brother? Otis Gough, Jr. might just know what his brother is up to, and if he doesn’t, then maybe he’ll have some clue as to where he’s keeping Mia.”
“That’s a good plan,” said Bay. “There’s also a chance that his brother doesn’t know shit, but that’s a chance I’m willing to take.” Bay looked at Darek. “Did he say anything that might tip you off to where she could be?”
“No,” Darek said. “He’s not going to give us anything, but the brother is a good idea. Just don’t go and piss him off. I wouldn’t tell him who you are or what your intentions are.”
“Don’t worry,” said Bay. “I’m going to tell him my name is Detective Blake.” He smirked, but Darek didn’t seem to find him funny.
“You can think of something better, I’m sure,” Lane said. “I think we’re going to be surprised when we find him. We’ll know right away if he knows us, and if he doesn’t seem to, the aliases should work just fine.”
“Call me if you think he’s in on it,” Darek said. “He could have Mia, and he could be in on this with his brother for all we know. A case like this, it’s not unthinkable for him to have had help. Especially since he’s so close to the department. Let’s just hope if we find them, they have Mia, alive and well.”
“Still not holding my breath,” said Bay. He didn’t want to be disappointed when they found her in pieces. He had a feeling that Max had ripped her apart like he had Nona. “Did you find the phone he used to text us with?”
“No,” said Darek. “It was never recovered. Which leads me to think that he’s got it stashed someplace he’s used to frequenting. I’ve searched his car and his desk personally.”
Lane didn’t look convinced. “He could have just tossed the fucking phone in the river.”
“He probably did the same with Mia.” Bay hated to be morbid, but it was like Max to leave his victims down at the river. “Maybe we should try looking there. We should go down to the storage containers too. See if he’s got her locked up in there.”
“Be my guest,” Darek said. “I’ve already looked. But I didn’t have much to go on. I’d start with the brother.”
Lane nodded. “Has Max already called his family and warned them that he’s been arrested?”
Bay nodded at the question, which he was curious to hear the answer to. If Max had an accomplice, he might have already warned them.
“No,” Darek said. “He hasn’t called anyone, and he’s not talking to the press. Neither are Lizzy and I for now. There might come a time we have no choice, but she’s in agreement.”
“Did you get anything on the murder weapon yet?” asked Bay. They had recovered a huge knife from the scene.
“Not yet.”
“Fuck, man,” Bay said. “Do you cops have anything at all? What’s the fucking holdup? That should have been the first fucking thing they looked at. Give it to Cobb. He can compare the fucking wounds.”
“The team is on it,” Darek said coolly. “I can’t rush them, or it will look suspicious. I’m not going to make any waves. Even the slightest hint of misconduct, and I’ll be thrown off the case.” Darek had made enough waves by arresting Max, and even though Bay knew it, he wanted shit to move as fast as possible.
“Look,” said Darek, who leaned forward in his chair. “I think you’d do best to just focus on figuring out how you’re going to kill him. Leave the detecting to me.”
“And me,” said Lane. “I’m going to keep on the trail of Max’s past. I told Kenneth Warner to get back in touch if he remembered or found anything else.”
“Maybe the brother will tell you something you didn’t know,” Darek said. “I’d ask him about the case and anything he knows about why his brother might decide to go vigilante and turn serial killer.”
“We’ll ask everything we can,” Lane said firmly. “First, we have to find him. I’ll get on that tonight.”
“You can stay here, and I’ll help,” Bay said.
“Yeah, you shouldn’t be alone, and that will give you some focus,” said Darek. “I’m going to go home and talk to my partner. I need to figure out what our next move is. She’s in the process of collecting every ounce of evidence for the case against Max. She wanted to make sure that every tee is crossed. We’re already not the class favorites, and this hasn’t helped. Even those who know Max is guilty still don’t trust a cop that would turn on another, and in this case, that’s me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” said Lane. “You were just doing your job.”
“For once,” Darek said. “I probably could have solved this case six times over if I was really trying. I have never had such a hard time, and Lizzy makes it all a challenge.”
“I bet,” said Bay. “And have you heard anything from Raven lately?”
“No, she and I are through. I’m with Lizzy, and I don’t talk to her unless there is something I can do for Noah.”
“Yeah, make it about the kid. I bet Lizzy is not buying that excuse.” Bay liked to rib Darek, and he smiled as Darek shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Fuck that,” the detective said. “I’m not using the kid. He’s been through enough. Besides, if I wanted her, I’m pretty sure I could have her.”
Bay laughed. “You’re right. I’m pretty sure if me or Lane wanted her, the same would be true.”
Darek moved to the edge of his seat. “Fuck you. Focus on Max’s brother and keep the fuck out of my love life.”
“Raven’s lucky, isn’t she?” asked Lane to Darek. “That really could have been her instead of her cousin.”
Darek got to his feet. “Yeah, she’s lucky. I wish her the best. But Lizzy is my future. I’m going to make the most of it once this is all over.” With that, he downed the last of his drink. “I need to be going. Good luck on your hunt.”
Bay walked him out and then met Lane, who had followed as far as the living room. “So, where do we start?”
Lane stared down at his phone. “I’ve already got his address. I say we get some sleep and go first thing in the morning.”
“Good job,” said Bay. “Count me in.”
Chapter 8
Darek
With the case heating up and Lizzy demanding that they take some time away from one another, Darek didn’t expect to see her until he got down to the station. So when he heard his doorbell ring early on Sunday morning, he reluctantly rolled out of bed and dragged ass to the door, surprised to find Lizzy standing there.
Darek rubbed his eyes. “Am I dreaming?”
Lizzy smiled and stepped inside.
“To what do I owe a visit at this hour?” he asked. As soon as he shut the door, he turned and pulled her into his arms. “Miss me?”
“I woke up early this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep, and yes, I missed you.” She rolled her eyes like it was the last thing she wanted to admit, and he kissed her hard on the mouth to show her how grateful he was that she’d shown up.
She pulled away and looked him in the eyes. “Darek. I didn’t come here for a hookup. I thought if I could get you up—”
“Oh, you got me up all right.” He smirked, but she released a sigh.
“As I was saying, I didn’t come by for a hookup. I wanted to talk about the case.”
It had been too many days since they were intimate, and all she wanted to do was talk. Darek wasn’t having it. “Let’s go talk between the sheets. It’s Sunday morning, the murder weapon is still being tested, and there isn’t a soul in the department, including Reed who would expect you to be working right now.”
“He a
lso wouldn’t expect me to be in your bed.” She gave him a scolding look. “Come on, let’s talk about what happened. I’m a bit worried about you. I mean, Max is our killer, and you’re not dealing with it in a healthy way.”
“I guess I’m just resilient, or maybe numb.” He shrugged and lifted her off her feet. “You can talk all you want, but you’re doing it from the bedroom.”
She giggled as he carried her to his bed, and when he tossed her on it, she kicked off her shoes as he settled back under his covers. “Fine,” she said, crawling up beside him where he held the covers back for her.
He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. “This is what I’ve been missing. Having you in my bed every morning. I still think you should move in. We could keep your apartment as a decoy, and no one in the department would have to know.”
“I think the bureau checks up on its agents from time to time, but I appreciate you missing me so much.” She brushed his hair back from his forehead. “It makes a girl feel wanted.”
“I wish this was all over. I’m tired of this fucking nightmare and everything that comes with it. I want to wake up next to you and live my life with you, Lizzy. Don’t you want the same thing?”
They had talked casually about marriage before, and he knew that she had no intentions of having a family, but he hoped that he could change her mind on that one. Especially since he’d met Noah. Seeing the little one, being able to help him, it really had opened his heart to the idea of having a child of his own.
“I do want you in my life, Darek. I just don’t know what that means. It’s not like we live normal lives.”
She had a point, but Darek couldn’t see his future with anyone else. No one else would understand his line of work, how it affects a marriage. No one else would know the struggle like Lizzy. That was what he needed, right?
“But you don’t want to do this forever, do you?” Darek asked. “I mean, don’t you want to raise a family?”
“If you think I’m the kind of woman who would give up her career to stay home and be a mother, you’re mistaken, Darek. That’s not me. It’s not who I am.”
“It’s not a bad way to be, but you could have a child and still work. I’m not a Neanderthal who thinks you’d have to give up anything to raise a kid. I’d help all I could, but wouldn’t that be amazing? A little you and me running around.”
Lizzy closed her eyes, and Darek felt the vibration of her laughter seconds before he heard it. “Just what the world needs,” she said under her breath. Darek didn’t know whether to take offense or not. “Look, that’s just not in my cards. I mean, maybe someday, but not now, not—”
“With me?” he asked.
“I didn’t say that,” she said. “I think you’d make a wonderful father to someone if given the chance, but I have things I want to do, and I don’t plan on taking nine months off, plus hindering myself for another twelve years until the kid doesn’t need a babysitter. Sorry, it’s not for me.”
Darek felt a part of his spirit dim, but he thought Lizzy was worth it enough to sacrifice certain things. “Then you’ll just have to be my baby,” he said, pressing his cock into her thigh. “You gonna let me baby you? Spoil you?”
“Maybe a little.” She put her leg up over his hip and then ran her hand down to his waist. “But I still just want to talk about the case. You haven’t told me how the talk went with Max yesterday. Did he give you anything?”
Darek shook his head. “Nothing. He’s being stubborn, but I say we let him stew a bit.”
“I want to reach out to his family and see what triggered all of this vigilante killer stuff,” Lizzy said. “He must have been trying to seek revenge on the other victims.”
Darek frowned. “Other victims?”
Lizzy nodded. “I have a theory. If his father was fucking around with other little boys, then he must have been messing around with his own kids.”
“I don’t know, Lizzy. Some pedophiles don’t mess with their own kids, you know? They see it as wrong, whereas they don’t see other people’s children as taboo.”
“But maybe he was mistreating his own children, and maybe Max had developed an unhealthy attachment. I mean, this is all just theory, but let’s assume this man was guilty of molesting every boy he knew. Then why kill a girl? What if he still was innocent of the crime?”
Darek shook his head. “Come on, Lizzy. Who knows what that sick fuck was thinking? And his son is locked up for multiple murders. Do you really think the father of a criminal like Max was incapable of killing? That Max didn’t learn the behavior somewhere?”
“All I’m saying is that we need proof, Darek. You know that’s what we do, right?”
Her sarcasm was not unnoticed, and he held her tighter and brought his lips to hers. “Let’s stop talking before we end up fighting. Besides, this is really what we do, isn’t it?” He rolled his hips, grinding against her. She had her leg raised over his, which made it easy to press against her, and she closed her eyes as if pleasure rolled through her.
“You’re not being fair,” she said. “And it’s not that I want to fight.”
“Then don’t.” Darek pulled her across him, and she ground her hips against him, giving him a lip lock that left him breathless. He tugged the hem of her blouse, and she sat up to strip it off, showing him her black lace bra. It wasn’t a color she wore that often, but he liked the contrast on her milky skin. It reminded him of Raven, but he pushed the thought of the other woman aside and focused on Lizzy. Everything he wanted was in his arms, and he would never have to look any further than her.
She reached and pushed down his briefs, exposing his erection. He cupped her breasts and rolled his thumbs over her tight nipples. Then he rose up and took them one at a time with his lips, sucking and teasing. “God, I’ve missed you, baby.”
“I’ve missed you too.” After pushing up her skirt and moving her panties to the side, Darek slowly moved his way inside her.
She rode him with slow and deliberate strokes, and he looked up at her, watching how fucking amazing she could work him. He put his arm around her waist, and then in a quick motion, he was on top, settling himself deeper as her legs wrapped around his ass. As she moaned out, his pride swelled. “Fuck yeah.”
It had been too long for the two of them, and Darek made the most of every touch, every kiss, and every ounce of pleasure he gave and received. Finally, after giving her a toe-curling orgasm, he found his own pleasure and was surprised when Lizzy didn’t have him pull out.
“I love you,” he said.
She searched his eyes for a moment, like it was much harder for her to say. But when she did, it made it all the more meaningful. “I love you too.”
Darek kissed her as they lay together, still joined. “I wish this was all we had to do forever.”
“Me too,” she said. “But I love my job too much.” She gave a little laugh. “Don’t you?”
“Some days, yes. But others? Hell no. Compared to this? Fuck no. I’d take me and you like this over anything.” He rolled over and laid against the cool mattress.
Before he could snuggle, she got up, found her top, and straightened her skirt. “We should go down to the lab and see if they have the weapon ready.”
Darek groaned. “Are you serious? It’s Sunday, baby.”
“I told them not to rest until they had matched it to all of the victims. They had a lot to test, but Miles assured me that they would keep on it through the night.”
Darek narrowed his eyes. “How did you manage that?”
“He didn’t want the assholes who work Monday through Friday to get all the credit, so he worked from start to finish. He’s sick of people taking credit for his work. He should be getting close.”
“So, there was some blood evidence on the knife?” Darek asked.
“Initially, yes, they found blood. They just have to match it with a victim now.”
“So, that would mean that so far, he probably hasn’t. Or we would have heard some
thing, right?”
“Not necessarily. Miles is probably waiting for the big reveal. He’s a bit overdramatic.” She rolled her eyes as if she didn’t think too much of him.
“Let’s get some breakfast first. You’ve made me work up an appetite.” He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. “I’m going to shower first, though. Want to scrub my back?”
“You go ahead. I’ll make a few calls.”
“You’re killing me, Lizzy.” He got to his feet and reluctantly went to his solo shower. As he set the water and undressed, he wondered if she wanted to try and talk to Max’s family, knowing that Bay and Lane were going to head over first thing. A late-night text had revealed that they already knew where Otis Jr. lived. Darek would have to drag his feet and make sure he took charge of their day, starting with a nice, big breakfast.
Chapter 9
Bay
Cruising upstate with Lane to talk to Max’s brother wasn’t Bay’s idea of a good time. But after waking up alone with still no word about Mia, he hoped the trip would at least get them closer to finding her.
“Do you want another one?” asked Lane, who pulled a spicy donut from the box that Bay had placed between them.
“No thanks. One of those is too many in one sitting.” He didn’t like eating junk food but had decided to see what the fuss was all about when the place first opened. Against his better sense, he’d developed a taste for them. “They’re good but terribly bad for you.”
Lane shrugged. “I worked out this morning. Plus, I’m starved.”
Bay remembered when Lane was nothing but a chubby kid who got picked on every day of his life. Lane had grown up to be buff, but Bay couldn’t help but think the man was going to regret the third donut later on in life. “You’ve already blown that workout with your second one.”
“Why don’t you work out?” Lane asked. “You have that amazing gym downstairs. Where were you this morning?”