by W L Knightly
She turned around, and he loved seeing her like that. She was a knockout, the prettiest woman in the world in his eyes, and no one else was better for him than her. He might fuck others, he might use others, but he loved her. He knew that with his whole heart. He would have her too. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but she would end up seeing how much they belonged together for the long haul. He was willing to give it time, but only a little longer. She would have to leave Tate soon.
“Lay on the bed.” She had already made her move before he finished his sentence. She spread her legs and cupped her breasts as she licked her lips. “That’s my girl. You’ve missed me, haven’t you?”
“You know I have,” she said, not meeting his eyes.
He reached up and put his hand on her neck. As his fingers squeezed, he stared hard at her, his eyes wild with desire. “Look at me. Tell me you’ve missed me.”
“I missed you,” she said, her voice breaking on the words as he gripped tighter.
“That’s right.” His hips thrust forward, and she winced as he penetrated her. As he moved inside her, she closed her eyes, but he wasn’t having that. “Open your eyes, Kendra. I want you to watch and know who is inside of you. I’ll always be in you, won’t I?” He needed to hear that he was always going to be a part of her. That she’d never want to stop.
“Yes, Kyle. You know I will always love you.” She sounded so convincing, but it was too much like goodbye.
He put his hand over her mouth and thrust harder, his thick length ravaging her depths. “You want it hard, don’t you, baby?”
Her eyes widened with terror, and she nodded.
“That’s a good girl.” He moved his hand to kiss her, and as their tongues stroked, gliding sensually against the other, he rolled them over, putting her on top. He looked up at her in awe as she bounced on his cock, her tits moving with each thrust until he cupped them. “You’re my angel, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
They moved together, the desperation in his voice growing as he felt her slipping away from him. It wasn’t the same as usual. She was tense. Her mind seemed somewhere else, her responses robotic. He pushed her away. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked as she fell on her ass to the floor.
She held her hand up protectively and winced away from him. “I’m sorry, Kyle. It’s just, I’m scared.”
“Of me? What in the world do you have to be afraid of? I adore you, Kendra.” He got to his feet and stood over her.
“I know, and I do love you, Kyle. I’m just afraid that with things changing, it won’t be enough.”
“Of course, we will be. I’m going to make sure of it. You worry too much, angel. I am going stay in town, and I’ll be here. It’s going to work out. You’ll see. Your husband is going to be so busy that he’s not going to be paying attention to us.”
“He’s talking about parties and us being the newest power couple in the city. He thinks it’s a fresh start, Kyle. And I can’t help but think that maybe he’s right. Maybe I owe that to him.”
“And what of us? While your content to be a power couple, what am I supposed to do? Sit back and watch?”
“This is why I was afraid. I knew you’d be angry. Can’t you see that I want a good life?”
“And I’m not giving you the good life? I have more money than your fucking Tate Bodin will ever have. I could keep you in the life you want and then some.”
“And what when it’s gone? You aren’t working. And there’s cocaine dust on the fucking table, Kyle. I know you’ve been using.” She lifted her chin as if she dared him to come back at her with an excuse.
“Are you saying that I can’t take care of you?”
“You’re barely taking care of yourself, Kyle. What of our future?”
He looked away, the anger burning inside him. “Maybe if I had someone to work for, things would be different. Maybe this is your fault. Why don’t you commit? I mean, I surely fucking have. I’ve been here waiting patiently, letting you come and go back to his bed when all the while you know you belong here with me. I came down here without a fucking question for you after one fucking phone call. To wait for you. And this is the thanks I get?”
She got to her feet and then moved in on him. “I’m sorry, Kyle. I’m just so mixed up. You know I hate it when you’re upset. It makes me nervous.” Her chin quivered. He put his hands on her shoulders and rubbed her arms.
After a moment, he reached up and stroked her cheek, and then he grabbed her hair, pulling it back. “Then why argue with me when we should be fucking?”
She smiled at him, her lips quivering. Then she dropped to her knees and took him into her mouth. He sucked the air through his teeth and then brought his hand to the top of her head where he guided her down on him. “Fuck yeah, baby. It’s so much better when we fuck than when we fight. Promise me you’ll always be mine?” He grabbed her hair and gave it a tug, and as her eyes met his, she nodded and pulled away from his erection.
“Promise.” She went back down on him, and he smiled wickedly, knowing that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make sure he never lost her. He would take her one day. And there wouldn’t be anything Tate Bodin could fucking do to stop him.
Chapter 6
Jake
Nothing said the day was going to suck more than being stuck in traffic and then walking into work late to find twenty grown men crying over their beloved fallen leader. Jake had apparently missed the memo for the early-morning meeting and was relieved to see that Jo had been in attendance.
As he approached, she wiped her eyes and turned to head back to the office as the others dispersed to carry on with their days. “So, what did I miss?” he asked.
“Just that we’re going to have a memorial service in a few weeks for the chief.”
“A few weeks? Why not have it sooner? Let us get past it.” Dragging it out just seemed like delaying the healing process.
“His wife is taking the body back to New York. There won’t be a local funeral, and so Milner is going to send two officers to represent the department.”
“I guess we don’t qualify to go, with all of the murder and mayhem.”
“Not even close, but I guess we should be thankful for that. I can’t take much more of the grieving.” She walked into the office and immediately went for a tissue.
He looked over to see the chairs she’d ordered had arrived. “Those are nice,” he said, wondering why she chose tiffany blue. “A little fancy for the office, don’t you think?”
“I like them. Besides, as soon as I officially take the room, I’m going to make a few other changes. I think better with cool colors around me. It calms me. I need the relaxation.”
He had figured she’d already taken the room and made it her own, but he wondered what else she’d do when he left. Create a huge investigation board on the wall? Probably. “Suit yourself, I guess. It won’t matter to me much longer anyway.”
“So you keep reminding me,” she mumbled.
“I talked to Tanner. He admitted the man was Madden but didn’t know anything else. He said he thought his first name was initials. It didn’t resonate with me.” He had hoped the boy would know the name right off. “How are we doing with your father? Did you call him?”
“I tried. He was unable to talk, but I managed to tell him I needed to see him again, and he said he’d call me back. He’s extended his trip an extra day.”
“Lucky us. So what about the attorney, Preston? You called yesterday before we left. Did you ever get an answer?”
“No, but I’m about to call right now.” She picked up the office phone, and Jake reached out for it.
“I don’t mind calling,” he said. “I know the ladies down at the office.”
“I’m sure you do,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Jake ignored her comment but smiled inside that she might be bothered over other women. It was ridiculous to think she really might be jealous, considering their previous words, but
she never ceased to surprise him.
The phone rang several times and just when he didn’t think anyone would answer, a familiar old voice did.
“Preston and Abel. This is Gloria. How may I help you?”
Jake had always liked Gloria. She was a flirty, blue-haired, lipstick-on-the-teeth old lady, but she was funny and brought a smile to everyone around her. Mostly because she told dirty jokes and made the world’s best fudge.
“Gloria, this is Detective Thomas.”
“Jake, sweetie, you need to come by more often. You know I still make my prize-winning fudge for the boys down there at the station. It wouldn’t hurt to get a surprise visit now and then just to say thank you.” She never referred to the fudge without calling it “prize-winning”, which was just another reason to like her.
“I know. I had to slow down on it. I packed on a few pounds. But I’ll tell the guys to stop by.” He remembered how much she loved to flirt and slap bottoms.
“Well, all the more reason to come by. I could whittle them off of you, you gorgeous man.” She cackled out a laugh.
Jake could feel his cheeks burning, and he was sure Jo could hear every word, with Gloria’s voice being so loud. “I need to speak with Mr. Preston. Is there any way you could get him or have him call me right back?”
“Oh, I’m afraid that won’t be easy. He’s on vacation, and I’ve had trouble reaching him myself. It’s always that way when he spends most of his time on the golf course. He doesn’t like to be bothered.”
“Vacation? For how long now?” Jake thought the timing of the vacation was a little odd.
“About four days. He told me not to tell anyone when he would be back. And I’m afraid I have to respect that, Jake. I’m sorry.”
“I understand, but could you give him a message? It’s really important that he contacts me before he returns home.”
“I’ll try.”
“Don’t try, Gloria. Do. It’s a matter of life and death.” He hoped she understood he was serious.
“To Preston, so is his golf game.” She gave a little chuckle, but Jake didn’t laugh. “Is everything all right?” Her voice was suddenly steeped with suspicion.
“Yes, ma’am. No need to worry, but have him call as soon as possible.”
“You’re cute when you lie, Jake.” She gave a belly laugh. “You come and see me.” With that, they said their goodbyes, and the call ended.
Jo leaned forward in her seat. “Well?”
“He’s on vacation, and she’ll have him call us before he returns home. Or at least try to. I hope.” He never could tell with Gloria.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing he’s gone away, right?” Jo moved her chair over to her coffee pot and switched it on. Then she spun around and eased back in it.
“Yeah, it’s almost a little too good of timing, to be honest. Four days would put him leaving just after Judge Mathews and Nina were murdered. I wonder if there was any coincidence.”
“Maybe he was close to the judge?”
Jake nodded. “Oh, I’d say they’d have to be. Considering the secrets those two shared.”
“You mean both being paid off by my father? It’s okay. You can say it. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I was wrong to not take your word for it when it came to that. I guess I just didn’t want to believe it.”
He could understand that and felt bad for her. Everyone expected better of their parents. God knew he did, but his own father had let him down so continuously through his life, it was just something he had grown to expect.
The phone rang, and Jo reached and grabbed it before Jake could. “Detective Calloway speaking.” She paused, and then her expression changed as her eyes narrowed. “We’re on our way.”
She hung up the phone and reached to turn off the coffeemaker that was ready to brew another cup. “We have to go to Kevin’s office. He found a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yeah, he said he’d explain when we got there.” She shrugged, and Jake got up to follow her out.
They walked out of the station and over to the forensic lab. When they walked down the long hall, Kevin stepped out at the end and greeted them. “Jake. Jo. Thanks for coming right over. I’m afraid there was an oversight, or I would have gotten to you sooner.” He turned and led them into the room behind the window.
Jake let Jo enter first, and then he stepped into the room behind her. The first thing he noticed was a bouquet of flowers next to a photo of Nina sitting on a table across the room. Despite the woman being a colossal pain in the ass, they had given her the proper respect of a beloved co-worker. “An oversight?” he asked, trying to bring his attention back to the matter at hand.
“The medical examiner found a letter when he was processing the body. It was tucked into the chief’s clothing, and we missed it at the scene, but it’s been addressed to you again.”
“And why weren’t we called sooner?”
“Because the new girl put the letter on the wrong desk, and I just found it this morning. I’m terribly sorry. I got to you as soon as possible.”
“It’s okay,” Jake said, waving his hand. “Don’t worry about it. The important thing is you called us as soon as you did. Let’s just hope that whatever he had to say, it isn’t too late to react or respond.”
“I’ll get some gloves, and we’ll take a look at it.” He walked across the room and found a box of gloves, and then he offered a pair to Jake. “I have small ones, too. Just give me a minute.” He went for the other box of smalls and handed them to Jo. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, let’s take this over here.” He put the envelope in a tray and used a new blade he took out of a package to open the envelope carefully. “I’ll get samples from the glue later. I know you want to read this, and that’s a much longer process.”
“I know. I remember.” He was bitter about not getting to read the first letter sooner, but he’d had to follow protocol.
Jo smiled. “Yes, we’re all very thankful.”
“I wasn’t that bad, was I?” Jake thought he handled it pretty well. The quiet that followed his question spoke volumes. He kept his mouth shut about it as Kevin gently removed the paper from the envelope.
“Here you go. We’ll just unfold it carefully. Then you can take a look.” He did just that and stepped away from the table.
Jo watched over Jake’s shoulder as he leaned in to read the words left for him. “There are times when the old me comes seeping through, times when what I do is not easy. This was one of those, and yet, I’m still only halfway done. Patrick O’Connor, though deserving of death, was a noble man in the end. My sympathies for your loss, but again, justice finds everyone eventually. There is truly no measure of sin, and the wage of death is the same for us all no matter the manner. The Hangman.”
“Are you kidding me? He’s sending us his sympathies?” Jake was pissed about the man’s audacity.
Jo stepped back, and when Jake turned toward her, she was shaking her head. “No, he’s sending you his sympathies. No one else. He sees you as a friend.”
“I said this. I said that justice finds us all. He’s telling me that death is our wage. We all die.”
“But it’s like he sees himself as some kind of martyr. His old self? As if he’s suffered.” Kevin’s expression showed how disgusted he was.
Jake thought of the man’s daughter. The way her little body was ravaged. “He has. I know who he is.” The name suddenly came to him. “He’s suffered greatly.”
“Haven’t we all?” Kevin snapped. “And if you know who he is, then go get him.”
“I wish it were that easy. All of the files from the case have been lost, and I’m still looking for a way to get to him. I’m on my way to the records. I’ll find something there. I have to.”
“Well, don’t try and make me feel bad for this asshole. My assistant is dead because of him. She might have been a bit harsh, but she deserved better. This asshole can take his lett
er and shove it up his ass.” Kevin walked away. He stripped off his gloves and then went into his office, shutting the door behind him.
Jo let out a breath. “Yeah, that’s going to be little tough for anyone else to understand it all like you do, Jake. I mean, we’re losing people we care about. Does that give us a pass to go out and do the same? Yeah, those people did bad things, but is it really anything they deserve to die for? And so brutally?”
Jake stared at the Hangman’s words. “I think he’s admitting it’s getting to him too. When he says his old self is shining through? He doesn’t see himself as Madden anymore. He only sees himself as the Hangman.”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter who he thinks he is. Madden is going to get the death penalty for this. So, let’s go find him.”
“You mean the sentence that your brother should have gotten? Yeah, the truth is, he probably will. It’s not like there are any corrupt assholes left to pay to get him off.”
Jo’s mouth popped open like she had something to say, but she didn’t utter a word. Instead, she closed her mouth and stepped out into the hallway.
“Well, I guess I know how to clear a room,” Jake mumbled. He looked down at the letter. “I’m not your friend, Madden. You’re going about this all wrong.” He closed his eyes and hated that the man thought it was the only way to get justice. He wished he could go back in time and do something different to make this all go away. But then, if he could go back in time, he’d stop Madden’s family from being murdered in the first place.
Chapter 7
Michael
After extending his time in Spokane to make arrangements for while he was gone, he found himself driving across town to meet up with an old acquaintance. The buildings on this end of town were older, the windows busted or covered with boards and newspaper, and there wasn’t anyone living within the entire block who wasn’t sleeping out on the streets or breaking and entering to find warmth.