The Bait

by Carol Ericson

  “I read about it, and I’m sorry. I guess that’s how you know Quinn.” He met her eyes again and curiosity had replaced uneasiness.

  Better. “You know about Roger Quinn?”

  “He’s a legend. Who doesn’t know about Quinn at the LAPD?”

  “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear it.” She didn’t plan on discussing her and Quinn’s relationship with Villareal. Scooting her chair back from the table, she said, “If that’s all...”

  “That’s all for now, Kyra, and you can call me Manny.”

  “Thanks, Manny. Let me know if you need anything else from me.”

  On her way back to the task force room, Captain Castillo called out to her as she passed his office. She stuck her head into the room. “Captain?”

  “Have a seat for a minute.” He tapped a few keys on his laptop and then pushed it to the side. “Good work on that reply to Copycat Three. It hits all the right notes.”

  She sank into one of the comfy leather chairs on the other side of his desk and immediately felt like taking a nap. “I’m just glad it posted.”

  “I’m sorry about last night. That must’ve been...frightening, especially after the day you had yesterday.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions.” She crossed one leg over the other and clasped her hands around one knee. Amid all the turmoil, she hadn’t forgotten Quinn telling her last night that Castillo had known her identity all this time. “Captain Castillo, Quinn mentioned last night that you’ve always known about my past—that my mother, Jennifer Lake, was one of The Player’s victims.”

  Castillo’s eyes widened for a split second and Kyra read fear in their depths. Then his chin bobbed to his chest. “Guilty.”

  She raised her eyebrows. Was he apologizing to her? “Nothing to confess to. I guess I should’ve realized it, as you worked on the case and you knew Quinn. You would’ve known the saga of the poor little girl left an orphan after her mother’s murder.”

  He bowed his head again, his gaze shifting away from hers. “What else did Quinn tell you?”

  “Not much. He just sort of mentioned in passing that Sean Hughes’s scoop wouldn’t be news to you. I guess it didn’t occur to me that even someone working on the case would’ve known about my name change.”

  “My wife and Charlotte Quinn were also friends.”

  “I suppose that makes sense. Is that why you threw work my way and made a place for me on the copycat task force?”

  Castillo jerked, and his hands fluttered like an errant bird over the various items on his desk. “You think I hired you to appease Quinn? Absolutely not.”

  She tilted her head, and her ponytail slid over one shoulder. “That’s not what I meant, although that could be a reason. You must’ve thought my unenviable position as the daughter of a murder victim would give me a unique perspective, especially on these cases that mimic The Player.”

  “Yes, that’s it.” He shook a finger at her, but his playful smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t play favorites around here, Kyra. You’re an asset to the team. Everyone thinks so, even the chief.”

  “Good to hear it.”

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have some phone calls to make. I just wanted to offer my condolences for your shock last night and my kudos for a job well done on that response for J-Mac.”

  “Thank you on both counts...and thanks for keeping my secret all these years.” She rose from the chair and slipped out the door, shutting it behind her.

  Holding her breath and tensing her muscles, she stood at the door and pressed her ear against the wood for several seconds. All remained quiet from inside Castillo’s office. He hadn’t picked up the phone. He was probably too busy collecting himself.

  That was the oddest conversation she’d had since...well, since the conversation she’d had with Sean last night. What had Captain Castillo been so afraid of? Had he made some deal with Quinn to watch over her here at the station? Why would he worry if she discovered that? Quinn was the one who’d have to pay the price for that one.

  She’d bring it up with Jake. The thought plastered a smile on her face. When she’d first met Jake, she’d kept him in the dark about everything, just like she’d always kept everyone at arm’s length. Now she shared everything with him...almost everything. She hadn’t told him yet about her foray onto Websleuths.

  She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. A girl had to keep some secrets.

  When she finally collapsed at her desk in front of her laptop, the sounds of lunchtime stirred around her. A quick glance at Jake’s desk assured her he had delved into something engrossing and wouldn’t be coming up for air for a while. He hadn’t even looked up when she entered the room. Plenty of other people had, though, and she’d become an even bigger object of curiosity than she’d been before.

  She’d barely gotten through an email to the mother of Copycat Three’s first victim, Juliana French, when her phone buzzed. She read the display and blew out a breath. She’d wondered how long it was going to take for Megan to call her.

  Megan didn’t even let her finish saying hello before she launched into an avalanche of words. “Oh my God. You were on my you-know-what list yesterday when I realized you had this bombshell story you never told me about, and then I found out you were going to use LA Confidential for Jake’s reply to the killer instead of me, but now I’m so glad you did. Do you think Sean got killed because he revealed your true identity or because he was the go-between for J-Mac and the killer? Do the cops think Copycat Three offed Sean, or was it the source of your story or some other random person who had it in for him? And are you okay? My God, to stumble on a gruesome murder scene like that. I’m here if you need a margarita or seven.”

  “Take a breath.” Kyra rolled her eyes. “First of all, I hadn’t planned to reveal my past to anyone—bombshell or not. Secondly, Jake wanted to use a digital medium for his response. Thirdly, I’m fine and I could use several margaritas at some point, and I’ll let you know when.”

  Megan scooped in an audible breath over the phone and Kyra braced for another onslaught, but Megan lowered her voice. “Seriously, I am so sorry Sean dragged you into whatever that was last night.”

  “And you’re sorry about Sean.”

  “Live by the sword, die by the sword. The guy was always playing with fire.” She coughed. “I mean, of course I’m sorry for Sean. Do you have a bone you can throw a sistah? Any details you can share that the cops aren’t revealing about Sean’s murder?”

  Megan could take off running with the information that Sean’s killer had texted Kyra, claiming he’d killed Sean for her, but the task force was keeping that to themselves for now and she wouldn’t be the one to compromise the investigation.

  “I don’t have anything I can give you about that, Megan, but when things settle down, I’d be happy to give you an exclusive interview if you want it.”

  “If I want it? Yes, yes and yes. Let me know, and let me know when you’re ready for those margaritas. They are not contingent on the interview.”

  “I know that.”

  When Kyra ended the call, someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she glanced up into Jake’s face. No one else she’d rather see right now.

  She asked, “Are we having lunch?”

  “As it seems it’s the only time I get to see you, except for murder scenes, I’m counting on it. It’s a late one, so can we make it a long one, too? I’m bleary-eyed from staring at the computer and Billy’s knocked off early to meet with his PI, Dina.”

  “You must’ve been reading my mind. I’m thinking Mi Casa, booth in the back, a few stolen kisses.”

  “You must’ve been reading my mind.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Just need to touch base with a few people. Meet you by my car.”

  Kyra logged off her computer and stashed it in her bag. If they had a long lunch, i
t might just turn into a work lunch. She gathered the rest of her things and walked out of the building, her gaze flicking to Captain Castillo’s closed door as she passed it.

  She scrolled through text messages on her phone until Jake showed up and unlocked the car with his remote. She was already seated and struggling with the seat belt when he got behind the wheel.

  Cranking her head around, she asked, “When do you think we’re going to hear from Copycat Three?”

  “I hate to say it, but I think he’ll communicate with me in the same way he did before.” He backed up and pulled out of the parking lot of the Northeast Division.

  “You mean, over someone’s dead body.” She’d finally clicked the seat belt into place and held on to the strap across her body.

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “And you don’t think he’s going to kill someone just for the opportunity to taunt you again?”

  “We already went through that possibility, didn’t we? He’s not going to stop, regardless. He already has the urge, and he’s going to keep satisfying it until we put an end to his craving. He gave us an opening by leaving that note for me. I’m not going to squander that chance.” Jake cranked up the AC, even though the sun had yet to make an appearance through the overcast sky. “I thought you were on board with that.”

  “I am.” She rubbed the goose bumps on her arms. “I just can’t help thinking about some woman going about her life today for maybe the last time.”

  “I know. Have you talked to Quinn yet about what happened last night?”

  “He sent me a text asking if I was okay. He knows I’ll spill everything in my own way and time.” Her gaze slid to Jake’s profile, still set in work mode. “I’m going to tell him about the text Sean’s killer sent to me. He may have some thoughts on that, and you know he won’t tell anyone.”

  “If you weren’t going to tell him about it, I was. The more the killings relate to you and your situation, the more I want Quinn’s insight.”

  She licked her lips. “Because you think the two are connected by more than opportunity. You think Laprey, the person tormenting me, is somehow related to the killers.”

  “I think so, Kyra. Does he know who the copycats are?” He shrugged. “I don’t know about that, but he’s following their deeds closely. He may be on the Websleuths site, as well.”

  Kyra gulped down her guilt. She should tell Jake she was trolling Websleuths. She tapped the window. “Next turn if we’re going to Mi Casa.”

  “I wish we were going to mi casa.” He reached over and ran a finger down the side of her neck to her shoulder. “I miss you.”

  “How’s Fiona holding up? Getting all her schoolwork done?” Someone had to bring them back to reality.

  “She’s doing fine. I’m not sure why she was so desperate to come down here. She knew I had to work and wouldn’t get to spend much time with her, unlike when she visits for Christmas. I think...” He drummed his thumbs against the steering wheel.

  “You think that’s probably why she did hightail it out of Monterey for LA. She could escape her mother, and she knew you wouldn’t be around much. Win, win for Fiona.”

  “Sounds like you know my daughter better than I do.”

  He parked the car, and they easily got their dark booth in the corner of the half-empty restaurant.

  Once they’d ordered, had their basket of chips between them, two types of salsa and a couple of iced teas, Kyra brought up the subject that had been on her mind all afternoon. “I had an interesting talk with Captain Castillo this afternoon.”

  “I have very few interesting conversations with Castillo, but I shouldn’t complain. He’s not someone to force his views on a case. He’s letting me and Billy run this task force with zero interference.”

  “Do you know that he was aware of my identity all this time?”

  Jake dropped a chip back into the basket. “What? You’re kidding.”

  “Quinn let it slip the other night. It surprised me, but I don’t know why it should. He was working The Player case twenty years ago. He must’ve known that Quinn was the one who found me hiding in the closet in my mother’s bedroom the night she was murdered. He knew of Quinn and Charlotte’s interest in me. Castillo told me today that his wife and Charlotte were close, so he would’ve known about the Quinns’ desire to adopt me and how they kept a close eye on me all those years.”

  “Makes sense. There’s a lot that makes sense now.” He scooped up a mound of salsa.

  She cocked one eyebrow at him. “You mean why Castillo always seemed like my champion?”

  “Yeah. Not that he doesn’t think you’re good at what you do. He does. Castillo may be unassuming, but he’s not stupid. Just not sure he would’ve gone out on a limb like he did for you on several occasions if he didn’t owe it to Quinn.”

  “You think Quinn strong-armed him into accepting me?” She tapped her chin, indicating where Jake had a spot of salsa.

  He swiped a napkin across his face. “Did I say strong-arm? Don’t get it into your head that Castillo threw you any bones. He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t think you were qualified—not even for Quinn.”

  “Castillo said the same thing to me.” She twirled her straw through her tea, causing the ice to clink against the glass.

  “But?”

  “I don’t know. His demeanor was weird.”

  “In what way?”

  “When I brought up the subject, he seemed almost afraid.”

  “That makes sense.” Jake cut off his explanation as the waiter delivered their food.

  Kyra toyed with her tostada until the waiter finished refilling their tea and backed off. “Why does Castillo’s fear make sense?”

  “He was probably worried about saying the wrong thing to you and having that get back to Quinn.”

  She snorted and stabbed at a piece of chicken. “Quinn’s not some ogre guarding me.”

  “Really? ’Cause I felt like I had to accomplish a bunch of daring deeds to be worthy of you in Quinn’s eyes.”

  “You must’ve passed muster because Quinn has our future all planned out.”

  “He does, huh? I’m glad he’s on my side because I kind of have our future all planned out, too.”

  Her cheeks burned and it wasn’t the salsa. “We have to get past the objections of your ex-wife and daughter before we can do much planning.”

  “Tess doesn’t have the right to call any shots. I didn’t say a word when she decided to move up north with Brock, and take Fiona with her. I figured Fiona would be better off with a mother and a father figure who wasn’t getting called out to gruesome crime scenes in the middle of the night. Tess will see reason eventually...and so will Fiona.” He dragged a fork through his rice. “Fiona was actually very interested in you after finding out about your past.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not sure that interest is healthy.” Fiona wasn’t the only one with unhealthy interests. Kyra took a deep breath and said, “You were bleary-eyed looking through Websleuths. Did you find anything?”

  “Nothing from looking at the posts, not even looking at Cannon’s and Fisher’s posts, which are still up. We asked the site to leave them. If there’s any communication going on, it must be through the private chats, and Cannon and Fisher deleted those. IT’s working on it, but those messages may be gone for good.” Jake sawed through a corner of his enchilada and dumped some salsa on the bite. “We may have to create a fake account and troll for comments. Can’t be too obvious, though, and give it away.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.” Kyra kept her lips sealed on the subject for the rest of the lunch and just savored Jake’s company.

  They hadn’t been a couple for long and obstacles kept popping up in their path, but the fact that they both still seemed committed to working through those obstacles made her heart sing with hope. She hadn’t let a man this far into
her life...ever. She hadn’t scared Jake off, yet.

  When he finished his enchiladas, Jake moved his plate to the side and patted the booth seat next to him. “Slide on over here. I hope you weren’t kidding about those stolen kisses—stolen spicy kisses.”

  And like a couple of schoolkids, they smooched their way through the rest of the lunch.

  They returned to the station late, and Villareal gave Kyra the bad news that only one of the witnesses from the lake at Echo Park remembered seeing Sean’s car there...but nothing else.

  “We’ll keep searching, though, and let me know if you get any more text messages.” Villareal rapped on her desk. “I’ve already informed Detectives McAllister and Crouch, so the task force is up-to-date.”

  “Thanks, Manny. I appreciate your keeping me informed.”

  Kyra left without again seeing Jake, who’d been roped into reviewing footage from the last dump site. She couldn’t face a third degree from Quinn, so she headed straight home for a jog on the beach bike path and leftovers for dinner.

  She let Spot into her apartment to avoid the light smattering of rain that had come in from the north. Then she poured herself a glass of red wine and kicked back in her recliner with her laptop resting on her thighs.

  She hadn’t checked Websleuths for a while, and the site didn’t disappoint. The admins had already established a new message board for the murder of Sean Hughes. Jake hadn’t told her that, and he must’ve seen it having spent all morning on the website.

  She checked back in with the case of the missing Alabama student and posted a few theories and questions of her own. A few minutes after her posts, her private message notification popped up.

  Toby Dog had queried her again about joining the IRL group, which stood for in real life. This time she answered that school and work kept her too busy to get involved.

  They messaged back and forth about the Alabama case, and then Toby Dog sent her a warning that made her heart pound. She took a sip of wine and read the message aloud to Spot: “Just don’t want to see you get involved with some weird characters on here.“