Deviated

by Schmidt, Esther E.

  “What about the women? The old ladies as they call them. Are they aware of everything?”

  I should have known he would take this opportunity to ask questions about the dynamics of the club, but I kinda have myself to blame since I started explaining it to him this way. And if I want to show this frustrating man why and how we handle specific cases, I guess I have to open up.

  “It’s club business and I can’t share Broken Deeds MC stuff with outsiders. But it basically comes down to the biker and his old lady. Once she becomes his old lady, she’s under the protection of the club. He can choose to either give her some, all, or none. To give you an example, my mother is a strong and feisty woman with a smart mouth. She doesn’t function well if you keep her in the dark. My father claimed her after she was attacked due to club business she was pulled in because she was seen with my dad and they thought she was his old lady. In her case it was an instant protection claim, but they have a twisted kind of relationship.”

  The corner of my mouth twitches at the reminder because I’ve heard this story so many times. “You might have read up about my mom and how she’s the sister of Zack and how he’s the president of another MC. Well, because of that connection she answered a phone call and her smart mouth got her into trouble that led to them texting back and forth. They didn’t know who the other person was until they came face to face when Zack introduced the two of them. With my uncle being the president of another MC…you can say it didn’t go over well when a president of another MC claimed her. Not to mention my mother fighting it tooth and nail every step of the way. My point to all of this is that my father had a sneaky way to pull her into the case they were working on and in the end my mother cracked the case and you might say they bonded through being open and honest. But if you have a woman who faints at the sight of blood, it wouldn’t be a good thing to share stuff, get my point? The flow of information depends, there is no hard rule and there can never be one because people and situations will always differ.”

  “I have to tell you the story about my parents sometime.” The corner of his mouth twitches and his eyes sparkle.

  He really is too handsome for his own good. My mind drifts back to when I caught him stalking me, mostly the scorching kiss he gave me. Shit. Most definitely not a place I can let my mind drift off to at this time.

  I give a light snort and say, “Right. Well, there’s no need. Let’s skip the whole happy ending, romantic thing because it doesn’t involve the two of us or this case for that matter.”

  His raspy chuckle makes our gaze collide and I swear the heat radiating from him draws me in.

  “We’ll, see,” he murmurs, reaches out to take a photograph from the file and makes sure to let his fingers brush against mine.

  My heartbeat spikes and I quickly pull my hand away. What the hell is wrong with me? I never let any man affect me the way he does. And why in the hell does electricity sing through my veins at a mere touch from this man?

  I clear my throat and decide it’s best to fully focus on the case. “My father knows I don’t function well when I don’t have anything on my mind. My brain simply can’t do nothing and that is why he gave me this case to wrap my brain around. No one knows except for my dad. It’s a cold case. Well, it was but I think the authorities messed up with this and I don’t blame them since there isn’t anything to go on, but maybe it’s also because we have more time to work a case differently and have more options and possibilities. Anyway, when I received the details it was two missing women and one dead body. These were linked because they all had similarities involving their case. But I did some digging and I found three more shallow graves were found with remains over the last five years. Though they’re spread over a few states and this might have prevented them from connecting these cases because I also found six other missing persons who I suspect can be linked with all the others. And…I also managed to find one of the two women who was reported missing. She wasn’t missing. She left her asshole husband and moved to another state. So, I solved a case while working on this one. But as I was digging deeper, I believe this case is about a serial killer who travels in and out of state.”

  Cullen nods at my flow of information while he continues to go over the photographs and papers in the file.

  “When a case like this evolves, I need to contact my father, but with the shift of leadership within Broken Deeds MC and all the insanity around it, I’ve kept it quiet. I know it’s wrong but if I turn this in—” I can’t continue to give him more words because my throat is getting clogged up and I hate it, but not as much as the final detail I need to tell him.

  My suspicions about the suspect I have in mind. Plus, I have something else in the works about another case I can maybe link to all of this with a woman who has managed to escape and is still alive.

  Cullen doesn’t seem to notice or hear me because he’s still going through everything in front of him and just tells me, “Do you have a suspect nailed down? You mentioned a serial killer who travels in and out of state. Do you guys work with a profiler?”

  I brace myself for his reaction and throw out the words, “I think the suspect might be familiar with law enforcement or at least has enough experience with some of the techniques used to recover evidence. The lack of DNA or any other evidence, and the way other cases haven’t been tied to each other, leaves me to think this guy is smart and has managed to fly under the radar for quite some time.”

  His eyes snap to mine and the anger flashing in there is vivid before he pushes it down and snaps, “Mind explaining a little more why you’ve come to this suspicion? Because none of the information in front of me gives this indication. The unsub might as well be addicted to TV series and gather simple information from these things to make sure he doesn’t leave anything behind that can tie him to a victim.”

  “It’s a hunch, and I guess not so much a hunch now since he was in my apartment earlier.”

  Cullen narrows his eyes. “And why exactly was he in your apartment, Esmee? What the hell did you do to draw attention to yourself?”

  Reaching over, I grab the photographs where it shows how the hands and feet were bound, and point at one. “This led me to a BDSM club two of the women visited, and I had to check it out myself.”

  If I thought I’d seen anger in his eyes before, the fury of hell is behind those windows to his soul now.

  “Why. In. The. Hell,” he spits out each word in utter fury but takes a deep breath before adding, “You won’t be doing anything on your own from now on, understood?”

  A spark of joy hits me because he’s not cutting me out or outing me. I know I took a step too far with going to that club on my own but I had to do it or the case would have been at a dead end.

  “Okay,” I tell him with determination.

  His head tilts slightly while he takes me in. “You’re giving in this easy? No catch? No fight? Just…okay?”

  I shrug. “You’re not ratting me out, and you’re offering to help me close this case. I’m smart enough to take a good deal when it’s thrown in my path. It might come as a surprise to you, but we are dedicated when it comes to closing a case, we prioritize it above everything else.”

  He places the papers he was holding on the table and leans back in his chair. “The deal includes us to be attached at the hip for the unforeseeable future.”

  I’m a little taken back he would skip over my sneer about being dedicated while not holding a badge. So, I decide to ignore his words and say, “As long as the deal also contains you not holding me back or outing me.”

  I get a tight nod in return as he gets to his feet and slides everything back into the file. “Go pack a bag, we’re heading over to my place.”

  I get to my feet and contemplate saying something or keeping stuff to myself. Yet I’ve always been the “all in” kinda girl so it’s actually not so much of a choice.

  “I have to show you something first.” I don’t explain but spin on my heels and head for the bedroom and
straight through into the bathroom.

  When I turn, I see Cullen standing in the doorway, his broad shoulder leaning against the wood.

  “Do I even dare ask what you’re going to show me? Because I vividly remember you telling me we were skipping the whole romantic, happy ending thing. Unless we’re jumping straight to the hot and casual sex, then I’m all for getting naked in the shower.” He reaches for the hem of his shirt.

  I roll my eyes and grab the mirror. I’ve attached it to the wall in a special way. It looks like a normal mirror but when I pull it forward the back contains a large white board I use as a sounding board. There are notes spread out along with photographs and keywords. Each one holds a clue or thought I can’t tie together yet.

  I glance over it and mumble, “When I’m stuck, I grab a hot shower and do some thinking in here while my eyes are pinned on this.”

  “Interesting,” he mutters and steps closer.

  His eyes trail over every piece of information. “Shall I snap a few pictures on my phone so we can check when we make a new board at my house?”

  I grab a box from underneath the sink and thrust it into his hands and I start to pull everything off the board.

  Cullen starts to sputter, “Stop, don’t you need everything in order?”

  A snort leaves my body. “Didn’t you read up on me? I have a photographic memory.”

  A frown appears along with a muttered, “No, you don’t.”

  I can’t help but shoot him a grin. “True, but I’m close to it. Besides, it’s good to pull everything off and put everything back up, it’s refreshing and can lead to a breakthrough or another angle in the case.”

  Cullen is still looking at me with wary eyes but I ignore him while working fast to get everything in the box. He heads for the living room while I stroll into the bedroom to pack a bag. I’m a light packer and only have one bag with all of my necessities. I have an addiction when it comes to my shampoo and body lotion, both are the same brand and are a combination of pineapple along with a hint of vanilla.

  For the first time I debate bringing my one eared stuffed rat but then again, I would also have to take out my tangerine pig socks I packed for comfort. I’ve never hid myself from anyone, so why do I suddenly care about Cullen’s opinion? The pig socks lack sexiness, that’s it. Yes, good enough reason to bring them and maybe I should wear them twenty-four-seven to put a nice asexual wall in place.

  Realization hits me within this moment as I stare at the bag I just packed. Forget the fact I poked a serial killer and drew attention to myself, my biggest issue here would be the fact I agreed to be attached at the hip with Cullen for the unforeseeable future. All while this man makes me crave to be attached a whole different way. I groan and reach for Rat underneath my pillow and throw it in my bag.

  “What in the hell is that?” Cullen rumbles from right behind me, making me squeak.

  Great, this man has me so off focus and preoccupies my brain, I don’t even notice someone closing in on me.

  “None of your business,” I snap and try to close my bag but he bats my hands away and grabs Rat.

  The corner of his mouth twitches and he might think it’s funny but I’m a breath away from wiping the smirk from his mouth with my fist. Asshole.

  “I always regretted losing mine. I don’t even know how it happened but when I moved into the house I live in now, I couldn’t find it. A rat, huh? I used to have a giraffe. It’s a childhood reminder of comfort. Like a hug from one of your parents while they whisper ‘everything is okay.’ Simple, yet strong.” He holds Rat out for me to take. “Don’t ever lose it.” He turns and stalks away and all I can do is stare at his ass.

  His ass stops and the sound of his chuckle forces me to slide my eyes up to his. The smirk makes me assume he’s going to make a remark about catching me staring, but instead he says, “The missing ear…I pulled the ear off my sister’s stuffed bunny when she squashed my giraffe between the toilet seat.”

  “Toilet seat, huh? What did you do for her to get back at you through your giraffe?” I can’t help but nod in appreciation for his sister’s choice of punishment while I slightly cringe.

  He now fully turns to face me. “I might, or might not, have ruined her favorite dress by adding some color using crayons.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “The whole ‘might or might not’? Still not admitting to the fact, huh?”

  Cullen shrugs. “You might talk to my sister at some point. I’m just…covering my ass,” he says on a wink, spins around, and heads for the living room.

  If we would have met under different circumstances, he would have been a guy I would have loved to spend more time with. Hell, even try the whole dating thing with because I’ve never actually been on a freaking date.

  I give a little shake of my head to clear it. I’m never one to live in la-la-land or dwell in the whole roses and sunshine shit. Reality, that’s where pain and misery brews but also the enjoyable moments in life. Moments life creates and I learn to deal with, for instance about all the stuff that chips off pieces of my soul.

  An image of Abe slides through my mind and my throat clogs up. Dammit, I miss him so badly my body physically aches. His perky attitude, kind words, hardworking drive, and stinky peanut snacks are something that can’t be replaced and leave a hole inside me. Work. I need to get my head preoccupied with important stuff.

  I stalk to the closet and get my kit. When we run into stuff, we need to preserve we always call someone to take care of it for us, but I’m on this case all by myself. Well, not so much myself since Cullen forced his way into being my partner.

  Anyway, I need to check if there are any prints, though I highly doubt it. This guy has been flying under the radar for such a long time, it would be shocking to find some. But I have to be sure. I take out my camera and snap a few shots of the frame on the floor and the one the unsub put on my wall before I upload them to the main server where I have my own file for safe keeping.

  Then I take my phone and call Ganza. He picks up on the second ring and starts, “You’re not skipping training again. Come on, Princess, I need a worthy opponent.”

  “I’m sorry, Ganza. It’s not my fault all bikers are pussies,” I chuckle and take some gloves from my kit and put them on. “I need for you to check for prints on two items and this will be between us. Can I count on you?”

  “You actually kicked my heart there, Esmee. Of course, you can count on me,” Ganza says.

  I can’t help but snort. “Aw, I hurt your heart, huh? Told ya, bikers are pussies.” Ganza growls and it makes me chuckle before I ask, “Where are you?”

  “Clubhouse,” he grunts.

  “I’ll be over in about twenty minutes, meet me out front.”

  “See you in twenty,” he replies and disconnects.

  Chapter Six

  CULLEN

  “What are you doing?” I question when I step back inside her bedroom.

  She doesn’t turn but places the frame into a Ziploc bag and continues to safeguard all the evidence the unsub in her investigation might have left behind. Though she mentioned her suspicions about the unsub having knowledge about the things she’s doing right now. And yes, I’m very aware of what she’s doing, I’m just surprised she’s doing it herself.

  “Most times when we get a case there’s already a suspect and it’s very clear the authorities have the correct one, but the evidence won’t hold up in court. They’re basically with their backs to the wall and can’t do shit but watch on the sideline until the criminal murders some more and they catch him in the act, or if he screws up and leaves evidence they can pin him with,” she says as she stands and takes off her gloves.

  She steps closer to me and tilts her head slightly. “This is the part you have difficulties with since we don’t need the whole ‘evidence needs to stand in court’ thing. We dive in, see with our own eyes where the truth lies and handle things how it should be handled. Minimum casualties. This is an important angle for us
because we do have morals, Cullen. We get the job done but we always make sure we have the correct one and get him or her off the streets.”

  I point at the brown bag she put the evidence in. “And where are you taking that?”

  Something else I don’t need to ask since I overheard the phone call she made, but I’m still asking to see if she would hold back, lie, or give it to me straight.

  “Ganza, the guy you saw when I caught you stalking me. He’s going to handle this.” She puts the stuff she used away, grabs her bag and is now standing before me, ready to go. “So, we need to swing by the clubhouse first. Are you okay with that, partner?”

  The way she accents “partner,” and how her eyes sparkle with challenge are getting my dick hard.

  “Anyone ever tell you that smart mouth of yours will get you into trouble?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Loads of times. And if you did your research you would have known I get it from my ma. Or did you miss the fact my father named her Lips? Short for Hotlips, but only he’s allowed to call her that, and that’s way too much info.” Now her eyes are dancing with mischief. “We call them nicknames but you guys have call signs, like how your dad is Twilight. I’m guessing that’s the reason your sparkly ass is called Cullen, huh?”

  “You have a weird fascination with my ass,” I murmur and step closer.

  A blush hits her cheeks and a sense of pride hits me due to the fact I’m the reason who put it there. She pulls me in with her strong character and stubbornness. Yet, hidden underneath it all is the beautiful woman who rarely gets a chance to completely be herself and relax enough to let go or be pampered by a man who knows how to make her body sing with pleasure.

  I reach out and slide my fingers around her neck and cup her nape to pull her close. A slight gasp escapes her and makes her lips part. The desire swirling in her eyes is as fierce as the need running through my veins and it’s for this reason I slam my mouth over hers. Damn, that tongue piercing feels as good as I remembered.