Before the Dawn--A Novel of Romantic Suspense

by Cynthia Eden

  * * *

  MALONE WAS INSIDE the tattoo shop, a broom in his hand and a scowl on his face.

  “Don’t know who made the worse mess...the jerk who broke in or the police team who came to look for fucking clues.” He gestured around the place. “You think insurance is going to cover this crap? Hell, no. My business is wrecked, my best tattoo artist is dead and I—” He broke off, swallowing. “Jinx is dead.” His voice was softer and the lines on his face appeared deeper. “Fucking hell, she’s dead.”

  Dawn headed toward him and wrapped him in a hug. Tucker watched her. This was the second time Dawn had reached out to comfort one of her friends. Her touch was hesitant, as if she wasn’t quite sure of herself. Her small body was nearly swallowed by Malone’s as his hands came up and held her tight.

  “I saw the story on the news. He froze her, Dawn.” Malone’s head lifted. His eyes looked damp. “He tortured her. Stabbed her. Just like—”

  But he stopped.

  She didn’t. “Just like me,” Dawn finished for him.

  Malone’s face tightened.

  Slowly, Dawn pulled away from him. “Was Jinx seeing anyone?” she asked, voice careful. “Did she ever talk about someone to you?”

  He started sweeping again.

  “Malone?”

  “She seemed...happier.” He bit out the one word as he worked. “In the last few weeks. I even asked her about it and teased her...asked her if she got laid.” His eyes squeezed shut. “She laughed. Wouldn’t tell me anything about the guy, but I knew she was seeing someone. If I’d had any fucking clue this would happen...”

  “You didn’t know,” Tucker said grimly. “This isn’t on you.”

  Malone’s eyes opened. “She never mentioned any name to me and I never saw her with anyone. Jinx was private, you know? Kept her secrets.”

  Everyone seemed to be keeping them.

  He huffed out a breath. “She did have a cousin in town, though. Guy who came around the shop a few times. I told her, though, that she needed to keep him the hell away.” His stare swung toward Dawn. “I don’t deal with users here, and that kid stayed sky-high. Every time he came around here, Jinx would get nervous. She wanted him clean, but the boy... Shit, I could tell that getting clean was the last thing on his mind.”

  Tucker took a step toward Malone. “Did you happen to get that cousin’s name?”

  “Rowan? Something like that.” Malone’s shoulders sagged. “I saw what drug use does—I saw it rip my daughter apart. I warned Jinx. She had to be careful with that kid. Because he would drag her down with him if she wasn’t careful. I gave her...gave her some support group names. Told her about some clinics in the area.”

  “She didn’t mention him to me,” Dawn said. “We were friends. Why didn’t she tell me?”

  “Sometimes, you try to cover up the things that hurt you in this world. You don’t want the ones close to you seeing how much you hurt.”

  Or judging you.

  “I think she wouldn’t have told me, either, if the kid hadn’t come around here.”

  “This Rowan...” Dawn wet her lips. “Did he have blond hair, brown eyes?”

  “Yeah, yeah, that’s him.” Malone squinted as he looked back at her. “Sounds like you do know him.”

  Yes, they knew him. Everything kept circling back to Rowan.

  “Caught him breaking into the shop about a month ago,” Malone admitted. “Called the PD to haul his ass away. Since I called them, hell, you know how pissed I had to be.”

  “I know,” she murmured.

  He huffed and tightened his hold on the broom. “Jinx begged me not to press charges but I got the detective to try to scare the shit out of the fellow. Figured maybe that would help some.”

  Tucker’s head cocked. “The detective? Just which detective was that?”

  “Torez. He comes in here sometimes. Jinx gave him a nice tat a while back.” His hand tightened on the broom. “Work of fucking art. Jinx was so good at her work. So fucking good...” His eyes teared up again. “Such a damn waste.”

  They talked a bit longer, then Tucker headed back outside with Dawn. He couldn’t help tensing when he stepped onto the sidewalk. He’d been in that same place hours before, so frantic to get to her.

  “Why didn’t Torez mention that he knew Rowan?” Dawn asked.

  Good fucking question. “I think we need to find out.” He also thought every single lead they had circled back to that little punk Rowan, and it was time that they had another chat with him. The drugs should have cleared from the little prick’s system by now. At least somewhat, anyway. Time for the truth.

  From Rowan and from Torez.

  * * *

  TUCKER SHOVED OPEN the doors to the hospital corridor. His steps were fast, determined. He didn’t know what kind of BS Torez was trying to pull, but the guy should have revealed that he knew who the fuck Rowan Jacobs was at the station.

  Dawn was racing at his side, her steps just as fast as his. They rounded the corner, going toward the room that he’d been directed to moments before by a helpful nurse and—

  Torez was pacing a few feet away, a phone to his ear. “No, no, damn it, I don’t know what the hell happened. He is dead.”

  Tucker stopped. His gaze cut to the room on the right, room 603. Two uniformed cops were there, several nurses, a female doctor and—

  “What in the hell is going on here?” Tucker demanded. “I want to talk with Rowan Jacobs, now.” He flashed his badge and FBI identification.

  The doctor shook her head. “I’m afraid Rowan won’t be talking with anyone.” Her lips tightened. “I’m sorry, but he appears to have suffered an aneurysm. We won’t know conclusively until an autopsy is performed but the signs are indicating that he—”

  “I found him like that,” Torez growled as he marched toward Tucker and the doctor. “I went in the room, taking up my shift to watch his ass, and the guy was dead. Eyes open—staring at damn nothing.” He shook his head. “Shit. I just called Anthony to tell him the news.”

  Their main link to the killer was gone? Tucker’s eyes narrowed on Torez. “We need to talk, now.” He didn’t wait for the other man to reply. Tucker just grabbed his arm and jerked Torez away from the hospital staff.

  “Hey, hey!” Torez snapped. “Hands off! I don’t care if you are FBI, you don’t treat me like this. You don’t put your hands on me.”

  Tucker caged Torez between him and the wall. Dawn had followed them, and she stood there, her gaze uneasy.

  “When were you going to tell us that you knew Rowan?” Tucker demanded.

  “What?” But Torez’s gaze had widened and his nervous stare darted over Tucker’s shoulder.

  Dawn cleared her throat. “We just talked with Malone. He said Rowan broke into his shop a little while back and that you were called to the scene. He wanted you to scare the kid.”

  Torez’s mouth dropped open.

  “When were you going to tell us?” Tucker pushed.

  “Fuck! I forgot! Didn’t even realize it was the same kid.” He raked his hand over his face. “I didn’t even file a report. Jinx—she begged me not to do it. Said he needed another chance. His hair...it was a lot longer then, not so peroxide-white.” His eyes squeezed shut. “And he wasn’t so goddamn rail thin. Didn’t even look like the same kid and I just—Shit. I didn’t make the connection.” His eyes flew open.

  Tucker gazed at the cop, not sure he bought that story. Things were starting to look one hell of a bit too convenient. “And the guy just...died...when you walked into his room?”

  Torez stiffened. “I don’t think I like your tone.”

  “And I don’t like the fact that a police detective is withholding facts on the investigation of multiple homicides.” A cop like Torez, he would’ve had access to the Iceman’s
case files. He would have been able to see all of the details on the killings.

  Suspicion mounted, a dark, twisting suspicion that coiled in Tucker’s gut.

  “I didn’t know that Jinx had inked you.” Dawn’s voice was measured.

  Torez stiffened. “It wasn’t a big deal. I liked her work. If you wanted a good tat, everyone knew to go visit Jinx.”

  Tucker wasn’t buying the guy’s bit. At Dawn’s question, Torez’s gaze had turned nervous and the cop was sweating. “Just how well did you know Jinx?”

  “No, man, no.” Torez surged toward Tucker and jabbed him in the chest. “You don’t grill me like this. I’m not a suspect. I’m on your side. I didn’t do anything to Jinx! I would have never hurt her!”

  “Were you involved with her?” Tucker asked.

  And he saw the truth—the quick, guilty flush on the guy’s cheeks.

  “You’re married,” Dawn said. “You have a wife. Two kids. And—”

  “It was a one-time deal, okay?” Torez had dropped his voice and his hand. “I was drunk. She was fucking gorgeous. And I didn’t want anyone to know. Neither did she. One-time deal.”

  The guy had just admitted to an intimate connection to one of the victims. And he’d just left the room that had their only witness—their dead witness.

  Tucker stared into the cop’s desperate gaze, and he wondered if he was looking straight into the eyes of a killer.

  * * *

  “THIS IS BULLSHIT!” Torez paced the PD interrogation room like a caged lion. “I didn’t kill Jinx! I would never have put a hand on that woman!”

  Anthony was at his partner’s side. The police captain was there, a rep from the department was there, and it seemed like half a dozen uniforms were trying to surge into that little room.

  Tucker stood with Dawn on one side of him and Samantha to his right. A face-off, and one that had him tensing. “You withheld pertinent details about your relationship with the victim and the witness. You think that doesn’t justify some questioning from us?”

  “I’m not a killer!” Torez was sweating, again. Not a good sign, especially with the way the air conditioning was icing that room. “I didn’t remember Rowan—I’ve told you that several times.”

  “Didn’t remember him,” Tucker mocked. “But it sure is convenient that you happened to be in the room with him when he died.”

  Silence. Even the police captain, Harold Hatch—an older man with thinning brown hair—glanced warily toward Torez.

  “He died of natural causes—you heard the doc there!” Spittle flew from Torez’s mouth. “Probably an aneurysm! That happens when people OD. We all know that kid was tripping hard on something!”

  “We’ll all know exactly how he died,” Samantha interjected smoothly, “once an autopsy is completed.”

  Torez swore. “I can’t believe this shit. I’m a cop. I help people—and you’re trying to what? Say I’m the new Iceman?” He surged toward Tucker but Anthony caught his arm, pulling him back.

  “Easy, buddy,” Anthony soothed—or tried to soothe. “You have to stay cool.”

  “You stay fucking cool! No one is calling you a killer!” But he huffed out a rough breath. “I didn’t want my wife to know, okay? If Gina finds out, she would leave me and take the kids. So I didn’t say anything when I saw that Jinx was the victim. I just kept my mouth shut. I screwed the wrong woman. It’s not a crime!”

  Tucker saw Dawn take a step forward. He caught her wrist in his. His fingers stroked her wrist. “We’re talking about a victim.” His gaze slid to Dawn. “A friend.” And he turned his glare back on Torez. “So speak about the dead with a little more fucking courtesy.”

  Torez flushed. “I’m sorry. Jinx—she was a nice woman. And I just—Shit, this isn’t happening. I didn’t hurt anyone!”

  “You knew Rowan Jacobs. You had an intimate relationship with Jinx Donahue.” Samantha’s voice was flat. “You’re going to have to answer plenty of questions for me. And you’re going to need to back up everything you say...with alibis.”

  Torez looked frantically at his rep, then his captain. “They’re calling me a suspect!”

  “That’s because,” Samantha told him smoothly, “at this moment, you are one.”

  * * *

  SAMANTHA WALKED INTO the hallway with Tucker. Dawn had already filed out of the room a few moments before. “His rep is trying to close ranks on us, but I’m getting an interview with Torez.”

  “I want to be there—”

  She shook her head. “You and Torez are too volatile when you’re together.” Then she gave him a sly smile. “Trust me, he won’t see my threat coming. I know how to work guys like him.”

  He believed her.

  “Take Dawn back to the suite. You two have been working all day. You could both use some down time.”

  “You’re just trying to get me away from the station.”

  “I’m trying to get you both away.” Her face was serious. “Reporters are about to beat the door down here. You and Dawn go out the back. You keep her secure, and when I learn more, I’ll call you.”

  He glanced toward the end of the hallway. Dawn sat on the bench, her shoulders hunched. As he watched, Anthony approached her.

  Anthony’s steps were hesitant. He touched her shoulder lightly and murmured something to her. Dawn nodded.

  “Partners usually know our secrets,” Samantha said. She’d seen the exchange, too. “Makes me wonder...did Anthony know about the affair with Jinx?”

  “You think he could be covering for Torez?”

  Anthony was staring down at Dawn, his face tight.

  “I think I’m going to find out.” She turned away from Tucker and he headed for Dawn. As he drew closer, Anthony glanced up at him. Anger flashed in the other man’s eyes.

  “Torez is a good cop. He’s been my partner ever since he transferred in last year, and he’s always had my back.”

  Tucker took Dawn’s hand and pulled her up beside him.

  Anthony’s gaze darted between the two of them.

  “Did you know about the affair?” Dawn asked quietly.

  Anthony’s jaw hardened. “He’s had more than one affair, okay? He has a weakness for pretty women, but that doesn’t mean the guy is a killer. I don’t like the way everyone is looking at him, grilling him.”

  Too fucking bad.

  “I know him,” Anthony added darkly. “Don’t you think I’d know if my own partner was a killer? I’m not some blind asshole. I would know.”

  “You don’t always know.” Tucker’s voice was quiet. “Come on, Dawn. Let’s go.”

  Her hand slipped into his.

  Anthony blinked. “Dawn? It’s...it’s not him. Torez wouldn’t do this to you. Trust me, okay? It’s not him. I get that the situation looks bad, but the truth is going to come out. You’ll see who the real monster is, and it won’t be my partner.”

  Not your partner. I didn’t want it to be my brother, either. Tucker and Dawn headed out the back, but Anthony followed them. Tucker’s SUV was waiting out there. He’d parked the vehicle in the back because he’d seen the reporters swarming out front when they first arrived. He shut Dawn’s door and started to walk around the vehicle.

  Anthony stepped into Tucker’s path. “I’m the one who called you guys down here. I’m the one who has been after this perp from day one.”

  Tucker stared at him.

  “When I saw that girl in the freezer, all I could think about was Dawn. I made that fucking connection right away, and I wanted to make sure she wasn’t hurt.”

  “She’s in FBI custody.”

  “Yeah, well, your fucking custody wasn’t so great before, was it? When the bastard nearly got her at Voodoo Tats.” Anthony glared at him. “If anything happens to her on your watch...” H
is words trailed away, but the threat was clear in his eyes.

  Tucker wasn’t in the mood for any threats. He just wanted to get back to the suite with Dawn. To pull her away from the rest of the world and hold her tight. “Get out of my way.”

  “You’re the one in my way,” Anthony snarled, voice low and cutting. “But not for long.”

  Screw the idiot. Tucker shoved past him and jumped into the SUV. A few moments later, he and Dawn were driving fast through the city.

  “Want to tell me what that was about?” Her question drifted to him.

  He had a better question. “Want to tell me how long the guy has been in love with you?”

  She sucked in a quick breath.

  “Because it’s pretty plain to see.” He turned at the next light, aware that his hands gripped the steering wheel too tightly. “You two have a relationship that you want to tell me about? Maybe something that you should have mentioned sooner?” Because right now, I want to rip that jerk apart.

  “He’s not in love with me.”

  That’s not what I saw in his eyes.

  “We went out on a few dates, nothing more.”

  He had to ask, even though he hated the question. “Did you have sex with him?”

  Silence. The stark, twisting kind that told him she was pissed.

  Shit. The FBI had already vetted her former fiancé—the guy hadn’t even been in the country for the last four months so he was definitely not a suspect in the crimes. Now he had to wonder if they needed to take a closer look at any other lovers she’d had. But I thought she hadn’t gotten close to anyone since the fiancé. Because, yeah, the FBI had checked that and—

  “You haven’t been in my life for seven years, Tucker. What I do—and who I spend my time with—that’s not exactly your business.”

  He hit the brakes at the next light and his gaze snapped to her. Shadows slid over her face so he couldn’t see her expression. “Bullshit. It’s me and it’s you. And everything about you has always been my business.” He heaved out a hard breath. “We made love, Dawn, and you didn’t mention anyone else. I thought you were coming back to me.”