“I’m going to fucking catch this guy.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I’m just scared.”
So was I, but even if I had to go door to door looking for some fucker watching women, I had no doubt Shawn and I would eventually find this guy. I needed to go into the station and talk to Shawn, Will, and the ME, but I couldn’t leave Reagan alone.
“I’ll protect you.”
“I know.”
I sighed deeply. “I need to go get an update from Shawn. Come with me and then I’ll go with you to class.”
“Go with me to class?”
“For now.” I stood and went to my closet for a suit to change into. Even though I had told Reagan the previous night that she wasn’t going to class, I also knew she was pursuing her dream job and having me shadow her was a way for her to stay safe without giving that up.
“And then what?”
“Are you really going to question me about this?”
I heard her get out of the bed as I grabbed my slacks. “I don’t want to argue, but do you have time to go with me to class?”
“You’d rather die?” I shouted, the thought once again crossing my mind. I wasn’t angry at her, but my heart hurt and cracked slightly every time I thought about finding her bloody and dead like the two murder victims. I feared that if I weren’t standing next to her 24/7, something would happen.
“Of course not. I just don’t understand why this is happening. I don’t know anyone with a reason to kill me.”
I sighed and moved toward her, wrapping her in my arms. “That’s what I’m going to find out. This is more than a job now. Don’t you understand? I’m going to do everything I can to keep you safe.”
She nodded against my bare chest. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I repeated and pulled back. I slipped on a pair of boxers from my dresser drawer. “Get ready to go. Today might be a long fucking day.”
Reagan waited in the waiting room at the station while I went to get an update. She said she was going to call her daughter and let her know she was going to be staying at my place for a few days. I wasn’t necessarily suspicious of Maddison, but I wasn’t sure she wasn’t involved either. Reagan was going to try to find out if she’d told anyone where Reagan lived. Maddison knew no one in Chicago that we knew of since her grandparents moved to Florida when they retired, but she was coming to visit for Thanksgiving, and she might have told someone her holiday plans at a bar or something. You never know who to trust.
When I got to my desk, Shawn was already at his. “Hey,” I greeted.
“You look like you didn’t sleep.”
“Can you blame me?” I leaned on the edge of my desk that faced his.
“Nope. I take it Reagan is at your place?”
“She’s staying at my place, yeah, but she’s in the lobby right now waiting for me so I can take her to class.”
Shawn nodded. “I’d do the same thing.”
“What’d you find out?”
“Nothing much. Went to Judy’s and talked to the bartender Frank. He wouldn’t let me into the office without a warrant or Judy’s permission even though it was about Reagan.”
“You think he’s our guy?”
Shawn took a breath and shrugged. “I don’t know. He seemed cool and collected but didn’t want to get into trouble for anything.”
“And Judy? You couldn’t call her to come in?”
“Tried. Even went by her house, but she wasn’t home or answering her phone.”
My brows furrowed. “Do you think it could be her?”
“You know as well as I do that a woman probably wouldn’t stab someone that many times.”
I did know. Profiling would suggest it was a male perp given the number of stab wounds. Women typically used a gun or poison, though it wasn’t necessarily unheard of for a woman to stab someone. Just not that many times.
“Right. Mind going back to Judy’s and seeing if she’s there?”
“Yeah, I was already planning on it.”
“Thanks. Have you heard from Will?”
Shawn shook his head. “No. Let’s go see what he has.”
“Yeah.” We both stood and walked to the cyber unit where we found Will at his computer. “Hey.”
Will looked up. “Hey. I was just going to come find you. I ran scans on the vic’s computer from last night and your girlfriend’s. They both have the same malware program that Amy Kenny’s had.”
My body went taut. “Were you able to trace it?”
“No.” Will shook his head. “The computers have the same backdoor program that allows the routing back to IP addresses to be a chain. It’s not even a standard VPN used by a lot of hackers use and people wanting to protect their privacy. Whoever this is knows what he’s doing.”
“How would someone find out all of their IP addresses?” I asked.
“Honestly, it isn’t all that hard. Just think about all the times you’ve connected to a free Wi-Fi at some hotel, restaurant, or coffee shop. Everyone seems to offer free Wi-Fi, but unfortunately, most of these networks are so unsecure that any hacker with a decent packet-sniffing program can steal information from anyone who connects to them without protection. In fact, that’s probably the easiest way, so that could be how our victims are being chosen.”
“Hackers aren’t usually murderers, are they?” Shawn probed.
Will shrugged. “Usually they do it for financial gain.”
“Amy had nothing. She was in college,” I stated. Just like Reagan.
“Why would a pro hacker come out from his parents’ basement to kill?” Shawn asked.
I snorted. I knew Shawn was stereotyping as well as being a little sarcastic. “Enjoyment? Money? Anger? Maybe someone is forcing them?”
“Blackmailing them?” Shawn questioned.
“I don’t fucking know, but we need to figure out another link beside someone hacking their computers and those fucking wood plaques. And, of course, Amy and Reagan attending the same school.”
We thanked Will, telling him to keep us updated if he found anything else, and then we walked back to our desks. “I need to get Reagan to class. Can you go to Judy’s and then, after Reagan is out of class, we can head to Amy’s place and see if Heather still has the plaque?”
If I had known that a piece of artwork was going to be the link, I would have had CSU bag the fucking thing when we caught the case over a month ago. It wasn’t dusted for prints because it seemed to fit on the wall as though it was a keepsake Amy had gotten made herself. That was why it was left behind with all the other pictures. Fuck!
“Yeah. What’s your plan for Reagan? Keep her here while we’re working and escort her to class and work?”
I sighed and closed my eyes briefly as we stopped next to our desks. I hadn’t had long to think about a plan other than attending classes with Reagan. “What if—”
“Valor.” I turned to face Captain Rapp as he stood in his office doorway. “A word.”
My gaze caught Shawn’s. He didn’t follow, but we both already knew what was about to happen. Captain would try to take me off the case. I wasn’t going to let it happen though.
“Sit.” Captain motioned to a chair in front of his desk.
“With all due respect, Cap, you don’t need to waste your breath. I’m not backing off this case.”
He chuckled slightly. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
“It wasn’t?”
He took a seat, smoothing his tie down as he did, and motioned for me to sit again. I sat. “I heard what happened last night.” I nodded. Of course he already knew. He ran the department. “How’s your girlfriend holding up?”
“As well as she can be, given the circumstances.”
“You know as well as I do that protocol suggests I take you off this case, but I promoted you to sergeant for a reason. If anyone can catch this guy, it’s you.”
“Thank you. I agree.”
“But for you to do your best work, you don’t need
a distraction like your girlfriend.”
“She’s not a distract—”
He held up his hand. “Before you fly off the handle, I’m trying to tell you that I’ve already authorized off-duty details to watch both Reagan and her place.”
I blinked. “You … You did?”
“Yes, but only when you can’t be with her, of course.”
“Right.” I paused, still not believing Captain Rapp had done this for me—for us. I’d expected to have to beg and plead to use department resources. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
He smiled warmly. “You’re welcome. I’d do the same for all of you.”
“You’ll need to change the home detail to my place. I can’t have her go back to a place some fucker broke in to. Without a trace, no less.”
“Okay. Will do.”
My phone started to ring in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Jessica’s name on the screen. “I gotta take this. Thank you again.” Captain nodded, and I stood, sliding my finger across the answer button as I walked toward my desk. “Yeah?”
“Don’t yeah me,” Jessica clipped.
“It’s not a good time.”
“I don’t fucking care, Ethan. I heard.”
“You heard what?” Shawn looked up at me as I stopped next to my desk. I rolled my eyes.
“That your little slut has a serial killer after her.”
“Don’t you fucking call her that,” I growled.
“Whatever. I’m calling to tell you I’m changing the custody order.”
“The hell you are!” I roared.
“Don’t think for one minute that I’m subjecting my kids to that kind of danger, Ethan.”
“They aren’t in danger!” We didn’t know what was going to happen, but I wasn’t going to tell Jessica she was right. I would have arranged for her to keep the boys until there was no threat. I just didn’t need Jess telling me what to do or how it was going to be with my kids.
“Yes, they are, Ethan. Alicia told me when I dropped the boys off at school.”
“What the fuck did she tell you?”
Shawn mouthed, “What?” I shook my head and held up a finger.
“She told me that Braeden has to work an extra shift to do a detail on your girlfriend.”
I didn’t know who the off-duty cops would be, and I didn’t like that Jessica knew before I did. I didn’t get the chance to ask Captain Rapp before she’d called. I sighed. “Look, Jess. I’m busy. Keep the boys tomorrow and this weekend if things aren’t settled.”
“I’m going to change the order,” Jess repeated. “This is the second time something has happened with people you know, and I don’t want my kids in danger.”
“You can’t keep my kids from me.”
“We’ll see what the judge says. Expect to hear from my attorney.” She hung up.
“Fuck,” I gritted out with a groan.
“Jess wants to keep your kids from you now?”
I sighed, trying to calm my anger. “Yes, because of this motherfucker and his goddamn wood plaques. I swear to god when we figure out who this asshole is, I will shoot him in the fucking face just like I did that guy that tried to hurt my sister.”
Shawn looked around and lowered his voice. “Calm down before Cap does, in fact, take you off this case. Let’s fucking figure out who this asshole is.”
CI tried to call Maddie, but she didn’t answer her cell. I knew she had a class first thing in the morning, but I still tried to call her just in case. I didn’t think she had anything to do with this shit, and I wanted to prove that to Ethan. Show him that she was in Michigan and not in Illinois. It didn’t make sense for her to be involved, but it was possible she had told someone my address either by mistake or on purpose. But she didn’t answer, and I was left with no further clarity.
Since I had nothing to do while I waited for Ethan, my mind raced. Or more accurately, continued to race. Maybe someone had followed me home after a shift at Judy’s, or perhaps someone had followed me home after class. Could someone be watching me through my computer as Ethan had said? How would they hack into my computer?
And why?
I looked around the waiting room, wondering if one day I’d work there. Or what if I was murdered and never got to follow my dreams? I tried not to think about the reality that a killer was after me somehow, but I couldn’t not think about it, so instead, I tried to think of the positive. Could I work in the same precinct as Ethan? I’d enjoyed going to the crime scene with him the night before, but could we work cases together? What if we were to break up again? I didn’t think we would. We were older, still in love, and I was never pressing my lips to anyone other than Ethan Valor again.
Think positive.
I was engrossed in a game on my phone, trying to forget about what was happening in my life for a minute, when Ethan finally came out. “Ready?”
I stared at him. His forehead was furrowed, and he looked even more stressed than when we first got to the station. “Everything okay?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll talk in the truck.”
I stood. “Okay.”
Ethan held the glass door open for me. “Did you talk to Maddison?”
“No.” I sighed as we walked toward his truck. “I usually talk to her before my first class.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think she’s connected.”
I stopped walking. “Did you seriously think she was?”
Ethan opened the passenger side door. “No, I didn’t, but I have to follow all leads.”
“Okay, good.” I stepped up into the cab. “Then what changed your mind?”
He shut the door and went over to the driver’s side. After buckling his seatbelt and starting the engine, he said, “I can’t share anything with you because I don’t want to put you in any more danger.”
“How would telling me how my daughter isn’t connected put me in more danger?”
He took a deep breath. “I want to tell you—I really do—but I’m already walking a fine line because I’m still on this case.”
“Okay?”
“Just”—Ethan laced our fingers—“trust me. I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
“I know you will.”
He kissed the back of my hand. “And since you still want to go to school and work, off duty cops will be with you when I’m not.”
“They will?”
“Yes. They’ll be nearby in plain clothes.”
“Okay. That’s probably for the best.”
“Yes, it is.” He pulled out of the parking lot and turned toward my school. After a few minutes, he said, “I’m going to ask you questions, and you just need to answer them. Don’t ask me something I can’t tell you.”
I swallowed and looked over at him as he drove. “Okay.”
“Besides your home, where have you used your laptop?”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you taken it with you to do homework or anything at a coffee shop, library—anywhere you’d have to use public Wi-Fi?”
I thought for a moment. I hadn’t taken my laptop anywhere except for his place, school, and work, but Judy’s didn’t have Wi-Fi. “I’ve just used my laptop at your place and school.”
I felt his hand tighten slightly in mine. I didn’t know why, and I didn’t ask. “What about before we got back together?”
“I … I don’t remember.”
“Okay, that’s okay.”
“Is it?”
“I think I might know the link.”
“What is it?” Ethan cut his gaze to me. “Sorry, I just want to know.”
“I know, but I can’t tell you. Shawn’s going to Judy’s now, and afterward, he’s meeting me on campus. I’m going to run my theory by him, and after you’re done with class, I’ll get your detail to go with you back to my place and see if this pans out.”
I sighed. “Okay. What will they do? Shadow me?”
Ethan pulled int
o the parking lot at my school. “Yeah. Or, since you’re my Reagan, I can introduce you to them, and they can walk with you like they’re a friend. They’re all my friends. Everyone in the department is.”
I loved hearing him call me his Reagan. It caused a flutter in my belly and made me warm inside. I had no doubt he’d do anything to protect me. “Okay, so, backing up slightly, you don’t think Maddie’s involved because I must have used my laptop somewhere and some guy got my info?”
“Unless Maddie used it somewhere.”
“No.” I shook my head.
“Then, I think so. Just pretend everything’s normal.” He parked and cut the engine.
“Except I’m about to have babysitters.”
Ethan sighed. “Yeah, but I’m going to figure this shit out.” He pulled me by my red peacoat and pressed his lips to mine. “I have something else to tell you.”
“What is it?” My heart stopped, and I was instantly worried before he yawned, which caused me to yawn and remember that we hadn’t had any coffee yet. I needed ten cups. “Can you tell me while we grab coffee before class? It’s like a ritual—or an addiction—but I get a cup every day before class.”
“Yeah, I need caffeine.”
We got out of the truck and headed toward the coffee shop. While we walked, I tried to gauge if Ethan was more at ease and less stressed. He wasn’t. Whatever he had to tell me wasn’t good.
“The usual?” Krystal, the barista, asked. I nodded. “And for you, sir?”
“The same,” Ethan replied.
“Do you even know what it is?” I questioned.
“Vanilla latte, of course.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out his credit card.
I smiled. “Okay, you do know me.”
Ethan leaned over and whispered into my ear, “I do. Every. Fucking. Inch.”
My face heated and probably turned the color of the red peacoat I was wearing. He did know every inch. And I knew every inch of him too. I was the first to run my hands, my lips, my tongue over every inch of his skin, and he was the first to do the same to me. It felt good to think of something other than what was happening around me.
We turned, and I came face to face with the man I’d briefly spoken to in the same coffee shop. Whiskey Neat smiled, I smiled, and then Ethan and I walked over to wait for our coffees. Even though I frequented the coffee shop five days a week, I hadn’t seen Whiskey Neat since then, not even at Judy’s, where I’d first seen him when I wanted to hook him up with the blonde.
Watch Me Page 9