Croft knew she was struggling with it, and he took her hand in his, uncaring what his partner thought. With everything in him, he willed her his strength.
Emma stared down at her hands and could see the blood creeping down her arms in phantom drips. She looked back to the notes, trying to ignore them. “There were twenty two deep wounds inflicted to the stomach. The zygote was nine weeks term and there were no drugs found in her system.”
Greyson didn’t want her to relive the note left on the hood of her Jeep, but he knew she would, just to prove to herself that she was capable of pulling this off.
“The lunatic painted the note on the hood of my vehicle. Lab work is back on the cross type of blood. It wasn’t human, but rabbit this time. It said:
Sheriff,
The game has claimed another loser. I’ll be victorious. She pleaded for mercy, but none was offered. She was a whore.
Guess who’ll be next…
The Hunter
She recited it from memory, not having to look at the disturbing picture. She looked at the wall across the room for a minute then continued on. “We’re unaware of any sexual relationships that the victim had, but I’ll have that information later today or tomorrow.” She breathed out knowing she had finished the worst part. She looked over at Croft. “When will you have other information on the victim?”
“Curtis can start digging for it now. We should have it in a little while.”
Briggs started typing during the silence. He watched out of the corner of his eye as the sheriff got up from the table and walked to the door. “I’ll be in my office.”
She turned before she left, eyes meeting those of the senior agent. “Greyson, when the FBI team arrives, feel free to take any of the deputies you need to help you get the lab settled.” With that she walked to the office, closing the door.
It was Briggs who broke the silence. “Wow! That was really rough on her. Is she going to be okay?”
Croft shrugged, knowing he’d get her through it, if she didn’t run from him. “You don’t even know the half of it, Curtis.” He got up to leave.
“Do you want that report on the sheriff?” He pointed to the envelope that they had sent to them.
“No, I don’t need it. Emma told me everything last night. You can destroy it for me,” he said, walking out the conference room and closing the door behind him.
Briggs curiosity was getting the best of him. He pulled out the report and began reading it. When he finally reached the end of the file he looked up and whistled. He didn’t even have words for what he read.
“Holy shit!” he muttered. “She’s lived through hell.”
~ Chapter Eight ~
Thursday Mid-Morning
Emma sat in her office with her coffee cup in her hand and her legs tucked under her in a yoga sitting position. She didn’t move as the door opened and closed behind the agent. Emma could see his reflection in the glass. He stood there with no emotion on his face, simply watching her.
“I’m fine,” Emma reassured, taking a sip of her coffee.
“I know you are, but I’m not,” he admitted. “I want to offer you comfort, but I don’t know how or where to even start.”
She turned in her desk chair, surprised at his admission. “I could use a hug,” she suggested, giving him a way to bridge them together.
Relief filled him as he moved towards her, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. The connection offered encouragement that Emma needed him, and only he could offer her that in this time of pain.
It gave him value and worth.
It gave him a chance to believe there was something past assignment.
It made him feel alive.
Emma curled into his body, taking in his male scent and reveling in the calming familiarity it offered her. “I’ll get through this,” she said finally, possibly more for him than herself.
“We’ll get through it,” he corrected. “I know that we can handle this together, Emma.”
There was a subtle change in her body as he realized she was no longer dwelling on them but focused once more on the murders. “Yes, honey?”
“I can’t seem to make it all fit. None of the victims follow a pattern other than they’re women, and he considers them whores.”
“It doesn’t sound like it connects does it?” he asked. “But I’m sure it will if we keep digging. Serial killers rarely choose a victim randomly. They have reasoning in their heads.”
“Maybe if I call Megan Landry’s ex-husband,” she said, pulling away from his body as her eyes met his.
He didn’t want to let her go.
“Thank you for the hug,” she whispered, going up on her toes to offer him a kiss. It was soft and gentle and promised of more to come.
Croft pulled her back against his body while he enjoyed the kiss. He couldn’t wait to get her back home tonight.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and Emma and Croft jumped, going for their guns.
“Christ! Deputy Marshall! Are you trying to get yourself shot?” asked Emma, staring at the man.
He stood there staring, knowing he just barged into her office and into something he wasn’t supposed to see. “I’m sorry, Emma… Sheriff. I just came to tell you that the FBI is here and the mayor is on his way over to ‘talk’ to them. He said something about stepping up and taking control.”
“Well hell,” she muttered.
Croft still had her pressed against him. “I’ll go handle the FBI and mayor, you call Doctor Landry.”
“Are you sure, Grey?”
He winked. “Absolutely, Sheriff, baby.”
Marshall stared openmouthed as his boss simply laughed. Deputy Reese was going to lose his mind.
Emma gave him another quick kiss, unwilling to pretend they weren’t just making out in her office. The cat was already out of the bag, so why try to hide the truth? The way Briggs had been teasing him flooded back into her mind. She wouldn’t treat him as if he was her secret affair. “Okay. Good luck with Mayor McPain-in-the-ass.”
Croft was touched she kissed him again in front of one of her deputies. It warmed his heart that she wasn’t going to avoid the truth. “Don’t forget. I’m making you dinner tonight, Emma,” he said, grinning. Still, she didn’t flinch in front of her co-worker.
“I haven’t forgotten,” she answered. “There better not be bacon and cheese involved,” she teased.
“Cheese yes, bacon no,” he promised. “Can you handle it?”
She laughed, pointing at the door.
“Come on, Deputy Marshall. You can be my back up against the mayor,” Croft said, heading out of the office.
Marshall followed behind him, still surprised that the FBI agent and his boss had something going on between them. Damn, this ruined his little ‘boss fantasies’ he had in his head. Marshall always pictured getting her to date him at least once.
“I’m with you,” he muttered, following him out.
Emma watched them leave, and sat at her desk pulling up the file on the tablet the agent had left behind. She scanned for the phone number and began dialing. After the fourth ring, a receptionist picked up the phone.
“Landry Dental. How may I help you?” she asked pleasantly.
“Yes, I need to speak to Tom Landry immediately please.”
“I’m sorry. He isn’t in today, would you like to speak to another dentist?” she inquired.
“No, it’s imperative I reach Doctor Landry.”
“I’m sorry he isn’t in, and I am not at liberty to give his home number out. If you would like to leave a message…”
Emma hung up. There was a way through the receptionist yet, and he was sitting in the conference room.
“Hey, Curtis! I need a favor.”
He glanced up at her and smiled. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
“I need Doctor Landry’s private residence number. I tried his office, and he’s not at work today. Can you work your FBI sneaky spy magic and get it for me?”
Emma laughed. “No, I don’t play chicken with the Feds. I know better.”
“Give me a second.”
Emma stood behind him, staring over his shoulder at the program he was using. It looked technical. “So, Big Brother is watching, huh?”
“Pretty much,” he answered, honestly.
“So, that program has everyone’s phone and cell numbers listed in it?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow. She wasn’t sure how she felt knowing that.
“Yeah, it does. Big Brother has the ability to watch, but he really only peeks when he has a reason.” He waited and the number popped up. “Got it.” He wrote it down on a piece of paper and slid it to her.
“You’re my hero,” she said laughing.
“Shhhhhhh…. Don’t let Croft hear you say that. He’ll kill me,” he stated, laughing.
Emma shook her head. “He’s a big softie. He wouldn’t hurt you.” Leaving the room, she headed back to her office.
Briggs sat there staring. “A big softie?”
The woman had no idea.
Greyson Croft was far from soft, especially now when it had anything to do with her.
Sitting at her desk, Emma dialed the number that she’d been given. She hoped the man was home because she really needed answers.
It rang a few times, and a man finally picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Is this Doctor Thomas Landry?”
“Yes, it is. Who’s this?”
Emma went into the law enforcement spiel. “My name is Sheriff Starling, sir, and I’m calling in regards to your ex-wife.”
“What about her?”
“She was murdered a few days ago, sir, and I had a few questions I needed to ask you.”
He paused. “I don’t want to spend all day talking about her if it’s all right with you. Megan and I parted ways a while ago, and I don’t want to keep reliving our past.”
Emma was shocked at the chill in his voice, regarding the woman’s death. “Sir, I understand that and I’ll be brief. I need to ask you when did you see you ex-wife last?”
“Two and a half years ago, and I haven’t so much as given her a thought until a few days ago when I was told she was dead,” Tom Landry answered, matter-of-factly.
“Sir, can you tell me why you filed for divorce?”
“I don’t know why that’s important, Sheriff.”
“It could aid in the investigation, sir. It could help find the killer.”
He sighed, his voice softening. “Megan had an affair, and I decided I didn’t want to remain married to a woman whoring around. I had a practice to think about and public persona to uphold.”
Emma paused at the word he threw into the conversation.
“Whoring around?”
Tom spoke, “I know that it’s horrible to feel that way about the dead, but Megan had multiple affairs with multiple men behind my back. She only married me to get her business off the ground, and then she had no use for me…for us.”
“I see, sir.”
“Do you?” questioned Tom Landry. “When I got married, it was to be part of a partnership, not to have someone run around, sleeping with every man in Philly. I found out, I filed, and I walked away to start a new life. Now, she’s still trying to cause me pain, even from the grave.”
Emma didn’t know what to say about that. The woman definitely paid for her sins. She’d seen the body personally.
“Where were you the night Megan died, sir?” she asked, knowing she had to do it.
There was a brief pause. “I had patients until six at night, and then my wife and I had dinner at an Italian restaurant for our anniversary. It was Luigi’s on West and Vine. We were there until ten, and then home to bed. I remained there with my wife until morning. She can tell you I was present and accounted for, since we had sex a few times.”
Emma knew the last part was thrown in because of the anger. “I’m sorry, sir, but I have to ask.”
“I understand.”
“How did you know there was an affair, Mr. Landry?”
Tom sighed again before continuing, “I had her followed by a private detective. He found the proof, and I filed for divorce. She didn’t contest it because she knew she was guilty as sin.”
Emma continued with the conversation, asking the name of the investigator and a few minor questions. She found that the man didn’t bother to ask the names of the men Megan was having an affair with. He’d never planned to confront them.
“Thank you for your time, Doctor Landry.”
“Good bye, Sheriff, and good luck with the case.” He hung up the phone with a click.
Emma added the notes to the electronic file, sending it over to Briggs to read. Now, she’d go find Greyson and let him in on what she’d dug up, and very useful details Tom Landry threw into the conversation.
Maybe whoever killed Landry knew she had an affair.
Emma found him in the parking lot as the FBI began dropping their equipment to set up the make shift lab. When he turned to face her, there was a metamorphosis occurring on his face. It wasn’t a happy look and briefly she wondered what she’d done until her whole body wrenched to a complete stop. As she was spun around, there stood a very hostile and angry Michael Parks.
“I see another murder has to occur before anyone gives a shit that Megan is dead,” he hissed in fury, squeezing the sheriff’s arm tightly.
“You need to let go of my arm, Mr. Parks,” Emma paused, staring down at his hand, “before I arrest you for assault.” The anger on his face spoke of how close the man was to the edge.
He only squeezed harder. “I see how it is. You get assaulted and there’s an arrest, but someone gets killed and you do nothing! Listen here, Sheriff! Megan is dead, and we can’t get her body released from the coroner until you’re finished with her. She isn’t a slab of meat. We want to bury her and end this nightmare.” He shook her arm with fury.
Before Emma could open her mouth to warn him again, she heard Croft’s voice from behind her. It was laced with pure hate.
“If you don’t let go of her arm right now, I assure you that I’ll make you.”
Emma looked at Croft, fury burning in his eyes.
The two men stared at each other, and finally, Parks dropped her arm before stepping back.
“When will you release her body, Sheriff?” he asked again, his eyes never leaving the other man’s face.
Emma didn’t answer him. Greyson now had her arm in his hand and was rubbing his fingers over it soothingly. “Let me ask you something, Mr. Parks. Why did Megan’s husband divorce her?”
Michael Parks looked like he was slapped at the question, obviously not expecting it. “She was unhappy.”
“No, let me rephrase this for you. Did you know she was having an extramarital affair?”
Agent Croft’s body went ridged as he listened to the questioning. This was very interesting information that Emma was sharing.
Emma pushed. “Let me remind you lying to the FBI or Sheriff, would look very bad on your behalf.”
“She was having an affair,” he admitted, staring down at his feet. “How does that affect how Megan died?”
Croft jumped in, needing to know. “Was the affair with you?” he asked Parks.
Emma was glad to see that the agent was on the same page as she was, without having to even say a word.
“Yes, it was,” he answered. “We were in love, and she was unhappy with her marriage. Tom Landry was a verbally abusive man who felt he had purchased Megan and could call her anything he liked.”
“Like whore?” asked Emma.
Croft’s eyebrow went up at that one.
“Among many names, yes. He was a bastard who didn’t appreciate her.”
Emma continued, “When she divorced, why didn’t you two marry?”
“I found out I wasn’t the only one she was screwing. It broke my heart. We remained friends and occasionally lovers, but nothing more.”
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“Who else was she having an affair with?” asked Emma
“She wouldn’t tell me. She said it wasn’t anyone I knew and to mind my own business.” He ran his hand through his brown hair in frustration. Maybe if he pushed, she’d still be alive.
Emma studied the man before them. He was a fairly attractive man in his late thirties, and it occurred to her that he had the lost puppy look on his face. He obviously had loved the woman. Could his anger drive him to kill her? What about the other women? Was he the killer? Did he have a connection to the other women?
“Been to Celestia often, Mr. Parks?”
“Before now? No. I stay mostly in Philadelphia. Why?”
It was Croft who spoke next. “I’m curious why a lover of a woman, who also cheated on him, would come rushing to her home town after she was murdered,” he added. “Or was he here already?”
It dawned on the man as to what the agent was alluding to. “You bastard!” he raged. “You think I could do this to her? Screw you!” he hissed, walking away.
“Way to piss him off, Grey,” she said laughing.
Croft grinned at her. “It looks like you had him plenty pissed off when I got here. Did he hurt you?” he asked, running his fingers down the red mark on her arm.
“No, I’m fine,” Emma whispered, staring up at him. She found herself sinking into his eyes. Neither moved for a minute until another agent came up and broke the silence.
“Agent Croft, the lab is ready to go,” interrupted the pretty blonde. “We can head to the last victim’s home and start processing the evidence.” She stared curiously at the woman Croft was so absorbed in as her temper flared.
Greyson never even turned to face her while speaking. He simply ran his fingers down Emma’s cheek. “Okay, Gail. Send them in. You can get the address inside from Agent Briggs.” Then he realized that he should probably introduce the women. “Sheriff, this is Agent Wyle. Agent, this is the Sheriff, Emma Starling.”
Celestia is Falling (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 1) Page 19