Before the Dawn

by Gail Chianese

  Zooming in, she took a succession of photos of their witness. Man, she couldn’t be more than fifteen, if that, dressed in skinny jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. Kat shivered thinking of how cold the girl had to be. Switching over the microphone, she listened in on the exchange.

  “Wow, you’re a lot older-looking up close.”

  “What? I’m not old.”

  “You’re about thirty, thirty-five, right?”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t make me old.”

  “My dad’s thirty-five. You’re still kind of hot, for an old guy.”

  “Did you ask me to meet with you so you could insult me to my face? ‘Cuz I’m freezing my ass—toes off and would like to go home.”

  “If what I tell you helps solve the crime, is there a reward?”

  The girl knew what she was doing and she sure didn’t look like a timid little witness. Anyone passing by would think Shawn had been out trolling for jailbait and he was about to get lucky.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Sara”

  “Sara What?”

  “Sara’s fine.”

  Shawn studied the girl before glancing Kat’s way and then back to the teen in front of him. “Yes. If we solve the crime with the help of your information, you’ll get the reward after. Tell me what you know.” He lied, lied through his teeth as if he meant it, which made Kat wonder if he’d pay her out of pocket. Looking at the girl through the zoom, she noticed the ratty clothes and how every now and then she’d pull into herself as if trying to ward off the chills.

  The girl glanced around, possibly checking for anyone eavesdropping. “You need to check out those doctors who ran the clinic.”

  “Why?”

  She stepped away. “Look, forget I said anything. I don’t want to end up like Brian.”

  Shawn reached out and lightly touched her arm. Cringing, she pulled farther away.

  “Who’s Brian and what happened to him?”

  Sara took another step away, paused, and turned back. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “He’s my brother. He found out what was going on, said he would turn them in, and then the next thing he OD’s. Except, Bri didn’t do drugs.”

  “How do you think he got the drugs in him then?”

  Fighting back the tears, Kat grieved along with the girl. Kat had an older brother, knew the special bond between siblings, and couldn’t imagine what this child was going through. Thankfully, Kat’s brother was just living and working in Chicago.

  “There’s a group, mostly guys.” She gave giving another quick glance around. “They deal for the docs. They found out what Brian planned to do and shut him down. Made sure the rest of us were too scared to say anything.”

  “But not you.”

  Standing a little taller, she wiped the last of her tears away. “Not me. Not anymore.”

  “What did your parents say? You told them.”

  She looked down at her shoes, one toe scuffing up the sidewalk. “Are you kidding? Mom’s probably happy she has one less mouth to feed. More money for her wine. And dear old Dad, the only thing he’ll miss is having a personal punching bag. But then again, he’s still got me.”

  “Any idea how I find this group of kids?”

  “Drive around, you see a bunch of idiots messing around, you found ‘em. Look, I gotta go before they see me talking to you.”

  She turned to go and Shawn stopped her again. This time he dug into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed her a business card—and, if Kat wasn’t mistaken, money. “If we catch who’s behind this, I’ll make sure you get the proper reward.”

  So the man had a soft spot for troubled kids? Well, who didn’t? That was no reason for her hormones to go into overdrive, but that was exactly what was happening right at this moment. “Down, girl,” she mumbled, then proceeded to put her surveillance equipment away. It’d been long enough since she last had sex that at the moment any guy would look appealing. Yeah, right.

  “What’d you make of the conversation?” Shawn asked as he slid behind the wheel and started up the car.

  Instantly she hit the seat-warmer button on the dashboard. Thank goodness for modern technology. Figuring the truck would attract enough attention, she hadn’t wanted to draw even more curiosity her way with it sitting there idling and no one in the driver’s seat, but now she could enjoy the warmth enveloping her.

  “Grieving, scared, and pissed. Not that I blame her on any of those counts. She’s also smart. Didn’t give you her last name or any kind of contact information.” I almost wish Vinnie had been with us. His BS meter almost never fails.

  Sara walked up the street, fading in and out of the shadows.

  “There were faint smudges on her neck. Looked like someone’s fingers latched on and didn’t want to let go.” Slowly he pulled away from the curb, cruising up the road.

  Kat could have walked faster. Slipping a glance his way, she saw his mouth was set in a firm line. White knuckles grasped the steering wheel.

  “Got a plan?”

  “Going to see if we can follow her and find out where she lives. Then I’m going to ask my friend Detective Daines to run a check on the occupants, see if any domestic violence reports pop up.”

  Sara turned down a side street. They waited at the cross road in silence. About five houses in, the girl headed toward what Kat hoped was her front door. A good five minutes later, Shawn turned down the street and slowed long enough for Kat to write down the address and note all the dark windows.

  His worry for the teen touched Kat. Not many were willing to get involved in domestic disputes, especially when it involved parents and children. There was a fine line between discipline and abuse, but leaving bruises most definitely crossed the line. Hell, that went into another stratosphere, as far as Kat was concerned. A flashflood of anger rushed through Kat’s body as they parked again and sat watching the house from a couple hundred feet away. Pulse pounding in her ears. Vision blurring at the edges. She reached for the door, ready to get out and give Sara’s parents a taste of their own discipline, when Shawn reached out and stopped her.

  “I know beating the shit out of him seems like a good idea, but it’s not. Either you’ll land in jail or he’ll take it out on Sara, or both. The best thing we can do for her is report him to Child Protective Services. When they see the bruises on her neck, they’ll remove her from the home.”

  Releasing the door handle, she slumped back in her seat. “That’s fine and all, but it doesn’t protect her tonight, nor does it guarantee that she’ll go someplace safe. You hear horror stories about foster homes all the time.”

  “She’s tough and smart. She’ll steer clear of trouble. Right now, we can help her more by seeing that those responsible for her brother’s death are caught. And maybe solve our case at the same time.”

  He was right, just like he’d been right that her presence would have spooked the kid away. Spending the night in jail wouldn’t help Sara in the long run, nor would it help find out who set the fires and why. Reining her temper back in, she nodded and stared at the darkened windows, listening in as Shawn called the detective. Letting her temper rule had already gotten her in trouble once before.

  For a moment the world spun out around her as her mind flashed back to that fateful day. The worry in Lexie’s voice as she called out for Kat, telling her to stay with her, telling her everything was going to be okay as the sound of sirens grew closer, it would all live in her memory forever. Kat had almost died. It was a sobering thought, one that crossed her consciousness at least once a day as a reminder of what could happen when you acted without thinking. Thankfully, Lexie walked had away from the accident with only some major bruising, a concussion and, miraculously, nothing broken. The scar tissue from where the doctors had gone in to repair Kat’s punctured lung and ruptured spleen now burned as if acting as a backup warning. Like knowing you could have cost your best friend her life isn’t enough.

  “You okay?” A finger stroked the top
of her hand, bringing her back to the present.

  She tucked her hands under her thighs, hoping to erase the warm, tingling sensation his caress had started. “What did the detective say?”

  “He’s got a friend in child services who he can get to come out tomorrow. As for the group of kids Sara described, he’ll be in the neighborhood and is going to drive around and see if he can spot them. In the morning he’ll also check with Vice, see if they have any input.”

  “Sounds like there’s nothing left for us to do tonight, unless you want to try to find them ourselves?”

  Staring out the front window, he said nothing. Several minutes passed without a response. Just as she was about to ask him again, slower and possibly louder in case he hadn’t understood or heard her last time, he turned to her with a slight scowl. Focusing on his compressed lips, she imagined kissing him. Saw herself running her fingers through his baby-fine hair, teasing the corners of his mouth to lift in a smile once again.

  “I suppose if I say no, you’ll just come back on your own.”

  Her eyes shot up to meet his quizzical ones. “It’s my job to find out who set the fires, Shawn. I have to do whatever it takes.”

  Throwing the truck into drive, he cruised slowly down the street. “Fine, but if we see them, we call Detective Daines and let him handle them. We are not confronting a group of possible killers alone, at night, unarmed.” His gaze cut to her for a split second before returning to the road. “Are you armed?”

  Six months ago, her answer would have been no, but after sitting in the crosshairs of an armed robber, she now never left home without packing some heat. “Don’t worry, Marshal Randall, I’ve got you covered.” Her voice was light, teasing, friendly, everything she wasn’t feeling.

  “Good to know. And if you thought I was one of those macho-alpha guys whose manhood would be intimidated by a strong woman, I’m going to have to disappoint you. I’m perfectly fine with you covering my body.”

  Heat flared as various parts of her body came to life. It took her a moment to clear the explicit image playing on the big screen in her mind. They were on the job, and somehow, she didn’t think he meant from the group of teens they sought. And she was perfectly fine with playing bodyguard, especially if it meant that first she’d get to do an up-close-and-personal inspection of her assignment. Whoa girl, been there done that. Remember? Yes, but it’s been so long. Maybe a rebound fling isn’t such a bad idea.

  Damn Vinnie for putting the thought in her head. She’d never been a casual sex kind of girl before, but anything with Shawn would just end up being a meaningless fling. Only she feared it wouldn’t be meaningless. The man reached out to her, touching her deep inside and making her yearn for things better left alone. Yet a small part of her brain asked why, why not take the chance, have a little fun, live a little?

  “Good to know,” was all she could manage.

  Slowly they cruised through the streets, searching for a group of punks that might or might not help them solve their case. Sexual tension crackled through the air, singeing her nerves. Kat jumped, her heartbeat spiking as Shawn’s arm brushed against hers when he shifted gears. All she wanted, deep down inside, was to drag him back to her place and cover his body in kisses. Indulge in carnal delights and forget all her morals, doubts, and dreams. If the vibes zinging around the interior of the vehicle were anything to go on, Shawn wouldn’t have a problem with her following her urges either.

  But in less than a month he’d be leaving, he’d said so himself. Granted, it could be the best twenty-some days ever. Cutting her gaze to study the man next to her, she took in his sharp cheekbones, firm jaw, and serious mouth. Maybe not drop-dead gorgeous like some guys, say her best friend’s new husband, but definitely good-looking. Heart-meltingly so when he flashed her that carefree smile of his.

  “See anything?” he asked.

  “What? Oh, no. Looks pretty quiet out. With how cold it is, can you blame them for not being out on the streets?”

  “I could think of more interesting activities to pursue indoors.”

  She could too and that was the biggest problem of all.

  Before she knew it, they were parked outside her office, neither one rushing to end the night.

  “You’ll let me know what Detective Daines finds out on Sara and the group of kids she told us about?”

  “I’ll call you as soon as I hear from him. Promise me you won’t go back out there by yourself. Even if they are behind the fires, it’s too dangerous. If what Sara said was true, they wouldn’t think twice about killing you.”

  With a feather-light touch, he drew small circles on the top of her hand as a corresponding warmth spread through her body. Her breath came out in shallow little puffs as her heart rate sped up like a jet taking off. His fingers slid along her jawline, gliding into her hair to gently cup her head.

  “Shawn—”

  His mouth claimed hers. Slow and steady, exploring, testing the boundaries. Kat took it deeper, delving in, making promises she wasn’t sure she was ready to keep. Shawn pulled her closer, one hand holding her head in place as the other slid down her back. Breathing in the cool, cinnamon scent from the gum he’d popped in earlier, she pressed closer, engaging his tongue in a duel.

  The match went on. Hands slipped lower, up and under, exploring, caressing, setting skin on fire. Anyone could have been standing outside the steamy windows and neither Shawn nor Kat would have noticed. Or cared. Her brain shut down as her libido took over, all reasoning gone, synapses no longer firing. Base needs and desires took full control. Wanting more, she popped the button on his jeans.

  With a moan, Shawn pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead against hers. “Not here, not like this.” He kissed her quickly, softly, then sat back. “I should go.”

  “Okay, keep me posted.” Kat walked to her car, and once inside, Shawn left. As his taillights got dimmer, regret over kissing him grew. He was leaving. It would have meant nothing. But that kiss felt like it meant everything.

  Chapter 7

  Two days later Kat found herself sitting at Elsie’s dinner, stabbing her chocolate cream pie over and over, the intensity of each jab mounting. The case grew colder with every passing breath. No clues. No witnesses. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Lexie would be home in a week, Kat’s new job started the following Monday, and in two weeks Shawn would leave. She wasn’t sure which part sucked worst, having to dump the case on her partner or saying goodbye to a guy she barely knew, one that pulled at her heartstrings in a way she couldn’t explain. One whose kisses had left her on edge and frustrated for the past thirty-seven hours and—glancing at her watch—thirty-seven minutes.

  “Katarina Jones!”

  “What?”

  Miss Elsie slid onto the bench opposite her. The woman had opened the café a hundred or so years ago and worked every day except for Sundays and holidays. As usual she wore black leggings, a long T-shirt advertising the café, and high-tops. In honor of fall they were orange today. Spring called for bright pink, summer aqua blue, and for winter, none other than red and green would do. Miss Elsie’s age was an undeterminable number, but her snow-white hair suggested late seventies while the sassy pixie cut suggested her heart and attitude still ranged in her twenties.

  And the scowl gracing her face told Kat she was in big trouble.

  “Sorry for snapping,” Kat offered.

  “Trust me, honey, after working food service for as long as I have, I don’t take it personally. However, what I do take personally is your attack on my pie.” She pointed toward Kat’s plate. “I’ve known you your whole life. I’ve seen you upset before and you either devour my pie or ignore it, but you’ve never once tried to kill it. What’s eating at you?”

  Dropping the fork, Kat looked across the table at her longtime friend who over the years had doled out bits of advice, solicited or not, but had never once passed judgment. What would she say if Kat told her everything that was eating at her? You’re a fool? Jump the guy a
nd get over it? Miss Elsie didn’t gossip, but still Kat warred over how much to tell. She reached up and rubbed her left ear, gathering her thoughts.

  She went the safe route.

  “It’s this case. We’ve got nothing. He’s taken one life and I’m afraid of what he’ll do next if we don’t catch him.”

  Miss Elsie reached over and patted her hand. “You’ll catch him. You’ve never let a puzzle go unsolved yet. In the meantime,” she pointed her finger at Kat, “you need to take a good, honest look in the mirror. Life’s short. There are no guarantees. No return policies and no do-overs. It’s simply lessons learned and either you move forward or you get stuck in the past.”

  Huh? What did that mean? “I’m not stuck in the past.”

  The elderly woman shook her head, letting a small laugh escape. “You and Lexie, you’re both pretty smart—and stubborn. It may take you some time, but you’ll figure it out in the end.” She stood, looked around the diner, and turned back to Kat. “Anything worth having comes with a price and never easily. The only question should be, is the reward worth the risk? You’ve never been a coward, Katarina. I don’t expect you will be now either.”

  With those parting words Miss Elsie returned to serving her other customers and, no doubt, dishing out more advice. Kat stuck a scoop of the pie into her mouth, letting the creamy texture soothe her frazzled nerves while her mind continued in a spiraling mess.

  Was she being a coward? Was that why she was walking away from the agency? Possibly. It wasn’t so much that she was afraid of getting her heart broken again, more like she was afraid of who else would get hurt this time. She’d made a stupid choice in Paul Gibson, let her hormones override her common sense, and picked a man more concerned with his social status than true love. Fine, no big deal. Everyone made mistakes.