“The gift you arranged for your beautiful wife will be arriving at two. Is that suitable?”
Croft couldn’t wait to spring it on her. “It’s perfect. She doesn’t suspect a thing.”
There was laughter. “I’m only glad I could help you give her this. I’m sure that she needs a little pampering after her ordeal,” there was a pause before he continued, “I also have news for you regarding the situation. I kept digging and you need some facts.”
“I’ll take them now,” he said, wanting what the man had.
“Not over the phone. You and I will have a drink privately, and I’ll make sure you’re apprised of the situation.”
“Thank you for your help with this, Mr. Mason.”
“Please, call me Randall. You’re married to the woman who I owe my life to, and that means something to me.”
Croft was nervous and edgy about the whole thing. “Thank you, Randall. We’ll see you tonight.”
“Good day, Director.”
He let out a sigh.
Briggs knew that something big was going down. It had to be for his partner to get into bed with Randall Mason on anything. It was a minefield of unexploded trouble. “Are you going to be okay, boss?”
Croft told him the entire thing. From the man supplying him with information, to them having to play nice, and to the gift he was giving Emma.
“Well at least something good will come out of it. She’s going to love it.”
“Can you be here and let the woman in this afternoon? I’ll cover for you, but you have to be my errand monkey, and pick up a few presents that I purchased for Emma. I also need you to hit the jeweler too,” Croft stated as he went back to his coffee.
“More jewelry?”
He told her what he’d picked out.
“You’re going to get laid big time. We’re talking total sex fest.”
Croft laughed. “Curtis, I don’t buy my wife pretty things to get her in bed. I do it to make her feel loved and cherished.”
“You're full of shit.”
He didn't even crack a smile. “Yeah, I totally am.”
It was the longest night of his life.
Once he returned home, he had to take a very cold shower with the intent to forget about his partner and the kiss.
It had forced feelings to the surface that he wasn’t comfortable with at all. Plus, it risked their working partnership. Paris valued his job, and having any type of sexual relationship with your teammate was professional suicide.
Even if they could keep it completely secret, it would damage their working together and that would be a travesty. Paris and Tessa were damn good as a team. Where he lacked, she completed him.
Her ability to sense what was going on had saved them more than once. Let’s face it, he was a big nerd and had the instincts of a cement block. He used his brain to figure things out, where she just knew.
He envied her for that.
Now, he’d gone and let her kiss him, and that was going to endanger it all. Twelve months of partnering and one touch of lips had threatened to break it.
Shit!
Glancing up, Tessa wandered in with their boss right behind her. In her hands were two cups of coffee, and on her face a giant smile.
Maybe, he was looking into it too much. Could it have just been a friendly kiss?
No, that much exchange of saliva was more than a buddy kiss. Then again, maybe the rules had changed and no one notified him. He was so screwed it wasn’t funny.
“I brought you a coffee, Paris,” she said, taking the chair beside him. When his hand touched hers, it lingered only long enough for him to look off settled.
It made her want to laugh. She knew kissing him was going to throw his well-ordered existence into chaos, but she believed life was short and you had to just go for it.
Tessa wanted to know what it would feel like, and she hadn’t been wrong. It took her a while to fall asleep, and it replayed over and over in her mind. In fact, it supplied her with really great dreams.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
Croft walked past his two agents, and took a seat behind his large mahogany desk. Not far behind him, entering the room was Emma and Briggs.
“Okay, today’s a research day.” He pointed at the two agents sitting side by side. “I need you to map out the homes. I want to see if there is any connection to where the victims live and if he’s their neighbor. I also need any information on Kristopher Karson.”
Both made notes.
“Curtis is out in the field taking care of some things for me, but he’ll be accessible through email. Emma and I are heading over to interview a principal Harvey Lee. He filed the missing person’s report for Mary Lou Harwell.”
Emma continued for him. “Since school’s out for the holiday, we’ll be heading to his home to surprise him there. Two law enforcement officers on your doorstep screams, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me,” she joked. “Then, we need to stop at the victim’s home. Once we figure out where he’s grabbing the women, we’ll be able to track him.”
Both agents nodded.
“You’re dismissed,” he said, waiting for them to leave. Curtis wasn’t far behind them. “Something’s wrong.”
She didn't know what he was talking about.
“The energy in here feels off.” All three of his agents were giving off some bad vibes.
“Yeah, well these things happen.” She knew that when she fell for Greyson, she was a mess too.
He started laughing. “I’m being serious.”
She shook her head and knew everything would work out over time. “Come on, babe. We have a job to do.”
Paris Archer and Tessa Brass worked in one of the larger conference rooms. They had maps spread out all over the table, as they examined them. While their searches were running on the tablets, they decided to conquer the next job for the day.
The only problem was, Paris couldn’t focus.
“About last night,” he finally said, getting the courage to bring it up.
“Yes?” she asked, staring at him.
Crap! He looked into her eyes and lost his nerve. “It was probably a mistake. We should probably keep work and personal separate,” he blurted.
Tessa almost wanted to laugh. Her partner was all stirred up. It was the only reason she wasn’t hurt by his words. He had enjoyed the kiss, but he was trapped by the rationalizing of it all.
“I disagree. I don’t think it was a bad idea at all. I do think, as usual, you’re over analyzing it and trying to kill it with logic. Sometimes, you have to go with your gut and not just your brains.”
He couldn’t look at her, unsure what to say next. He was caught up on her words and what they meant. So, she was glad they kissed.
Oh God!
That made this all the more difficult.
Tessa watched his boss and wife walk past the room holding hands. They were smiling and didn't look like they were suffering from having a work and personal relationship. This was just more proof.
It could be done.
If two people worked at it.
“Do you really think I overthink things, Tess?”
She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but then again she didn't want to lie to him either. “Ummm… Yeah, you do.”
Paris didn't know what to say. Her answer didn't make it any easier. In fact, it now gave him even more to think about, because he still wanted her and probably always would.
He would be crazy not to…
Chapter Nine
The man who called in the missing person’s report for Mary Lou Harwell lived in a really nice neighborhood in Las Vegas. From the toys in the yard, they could tell he had a family. They didn't want to bother him while he was spending time with them, but they didn't really have a choice in the matter.
There were four dead women, and at this point, anything could help get them get one step closer to understanding who was behind it all. For all they knew, this man could hold a clue in their murders.
<
br /> Hopping down from the Denali, Emma met her husband in front of the vehicle. “Wow, look at all the toys. It’s like a kid’s playroom exploded.”
Croft laughed. “I’d be compulsively picking them all up.”
Didn't she know it?
“You realize if we have kids, the condo isn’t really child friendly.”
Croft stared at her surprised. “Why not? Kids can live in condos.”
It made her laugh. “We would need a yard to toss toys all over the place. Look at your nieces and nephews. They all have grass, and trees to play in. What will our kids do? Repel from the thirteenth floor?”
The idea of his kids hanging off the balcony made him want to throw up. Then the idea of a yard full of debris wasn’t far behind it. “I guess you have a valid point.”
“Yeah, we’ll have toys everywhere and bikes in the driveway.” Emma knew she was stirring him up, but before they had kids, he needed to think about all the things that came along with them. Greyson was a compulsive cleaner, and kids were messy. “Not to mention food on the carpets and juice spilled inside your car.”
Now he was downright horrified. “My car? Wait! What does my car have to do with kids?”
Oh, this was priceless. “Actually, your car won’t get messy.”
Croft relaxed marginally.
“Yeah, because you’re going to have to sell it. You can’t pick the kids up from daycare in the Challenger. The car seats won’t really fit in the back.”
He stood there staring. “I have to get rid of my car?”
Again, she used a point of reference. “Well, you’ll get a new vehicle. What kind of cars do your brother-in-laws drive?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
Croft swallowed. “One drives a minivan and the other a Camry.” In fact, he busted their asses all the time about it.
Oh God.
Now, he was feeling sick.
Emma shook her head. “You’ll look sexy in a ‘dad’ car. In fact, it’ll be hot. There goes badass Director Croft, cruising the strip in a luxury minivan.”
He glanced down at Emma. “Are you trying to scare me off the idea of kids for a specific reason?”
If she was, it was working.
Emma stared up into his eyes. “No babe, I’m just pointing out that now this is our life, but if we have children, it’ll have to change. I want you to make sure you’re ready for that kind of adjustment.”
As he prepared to reply, the front door of the house opened and a harried man rushed out to the porch. He pulled out a cigarette and started smoking. It was then that he noticed them standing in his yard. “Can I help you?”
Emma approached and pulled her badge from her hip to begin the introductions. “I’m Detective Croft and this is Director Greyson Croft of the FBI. We’re here to talk to you about Mary Lou Harwell. You filed a missing person report when she didn't arrive at work.”
“Yes, I did. It’s not like her to flake about showing up at work. Mary Lou never even calls off sick. She is dedicated to her job and loves the kids like they’re her own. She’s a saint.”
“Mr. Lee, I hate to inform you of this, but Mary Lou’s body was found the other day. She’s been murdered,” Croft stated.
The man looked sick. “You're kidding right?”
They both shook their heads.
“Oh my God! This is terrible! Her students will be devastated after they come back from winter break. I need to start working on this now.”
Emma stopped him. “First, we need to ask you some questions, and then you’re free to go take care of the work thing.”
There was horrible screams from inside.
“Excuse me,” he said, opening the door to the chaos. There were kids howling and toys all over the inside of the house too.
Croft swallowed. Oh holy hell. He wasn’t sure he could live like that.
Harvey Lee yelled like a man out of control, because obviously he was. “I’m sorry. My wife had last minute shopping to do. She left me all alone with them. I swear that it’s payback for being trapped with them all day long. She needs me to bleed every now and again to keep me firmly planted in reality.”
Croft needed to know. “How many are in there?” He assumed a herd from the sound of it.
“Two and they can destroy a place within the hour.”
Emma wanted to laugh at the look on her husband’s face.
“Last week, they flushed the goldfish while they were alive, and my son colored all over the walls, again.”
Since chaos didn't bother Emma, she found that entertaining, but already she could see her husband doing the math in his head of what would be the cost to hiring people to fix the damage.
“The worst was peeling the Mr. Yuck stickers off the outside of our car. They use some industrial glue on those bastards. The paint won’t ever be the same again.”
Emma started laughing. “I’m sorry, but I pictured that in my head.”
“My wife laughed too. She even took pictures. I didn't find it that funny. A black minivan with green and white sticker pox marks will stand out at work, that’s for sure.”
Croft wasn’t amused, and he needed to get them to discuss things that didn't scare the hell out of him, like death. “Did Ms. Harwell live far from work?” he asked, in absolute terror. There was a small boy in the window, picking his nose and laughing about it.
“No, in fact, she only lived three blocks away. Mary Lou walked every day.”
There was a horrendous crash inside.
“I’m sorry, but that sounded like the gerbil cage falling again. I’m going to have to wrangle rodents now too. God, I don’t know how my wife does this. Thank God she stays at home with them. You know how wild kids in daycare can be.”
Emma started laughing as he closed the door. “I have news for him. Daycare kids may be far more controlled.”
Her husband didn't say anything all the way back to the car.
“Are we going to the victim’s home next?” she asked, staring at him, knowing the cracking was about to begin.
“Yeah, I guess.” Croft had a question. “If we had kids, are you going to stay at home or keep working?”
It took everything she had, but she managed to get it out while keeping a straight face. “I don’t plan on giving up my career. I may be married to a caveman, but he’s going to have to chip in and help raise the kids.”
“Can we negotiate on that?”
“No.”
“What about really good bribes? You know that I’ll pretty much offer up whatever you want.”
“No. If you help me create babies, then you will be assisting in taking care of them. That means feedings and diapers too.”
Terror filled him. “Are my sisters’ kids that bad?” It was hope that he needed now. Maybe it was just this man’s children and his gene pool wouldn’t be as frightening.
Emma laughed. “Yeah, because they’re kids. They like to run around, get into trouble, and spill things. Your nephew set the snake free in the house to catch the mouse that he accidentally let out too. It didn't end well for either. The one ate the other and your sister clubbed the winner with a tennis racket.”
This was all new to him. “I’ve never seen them act like that.”
Now, she let him in on the big secret. “Your one sister gives them money to behave around you. They know you can’t handle the insanity and when that doesn’t work, she tells them you’ll take them off to jail.”
“Really?” Croft was mortified that his nephews were scared shitless of him. Then again, he wasn’t surprised. Whenever he saw the two little boys, they stayed pretty far away from him and stared at him warily.
Emma laughed. “Yeah babe, really.”
They decided to start at the school where Mary Lou Harwell worked and canvas the area towards her house. It wasn’t far at all, and Harvey Lee had been right. At the most, it was a three-block walk and even in the cooler winters, it would still be nice. They drove the route a few times to check out all the
short cuts and possible paths that the woman may have taken to cut down on her walk time.
There weren’t many options unless she walked through someone’s yard. That meant the straight route and around the corner, or the one alley with the high privacy fences. Yeah, that seemed most likely. They parked their Denali and decided to navigate the rest of the walk on foot to search for any evidence as they explored the surrounding space.
“This would be an ideal place to grab someone,” Emma stated, pointing at the garbage cans and garages that lined the street. “I’d never take this as a shortcut.”
“That’s because you’re a trained cop. You know what lives out there waiting for women to drop their guard. Civilians are stupid at times.” Then, he realized what he said. “I didn't mean…”
Emma nodded. She was well aware that the person who took her was able to do it because she let her guard down and wasn’t paying attention.
“Honey, I didn't mean that.”
“It’s okay, Grey.”
“No, it’s not. I’m sorry. I wasn’t inferring that you were an idiot. It happens.” Shit, he couldn’t have dug a bigger hole if he tried. Sometimes, he was incredibly lax around her, and he didn't think first.
Emma understood what he meant, but it still hurt that she’d been complacent and it nearly destroyed their happy life.
“Honey,” he touched her shoulder, and when she looked over at him, her eyes were filled with tears. “Oh Emma, I’m so sorry for hurting your feelings just now. I didn't mean to sound so obnoxious.”
Greyson pulled her into his arms and left a trail of kisses across her head. He kept forgetting what she had just lived through. It slipped his mind, only to rush back when he didn't expect it and kept catching him off guard. “We’ll get through this together. I know we will.”
She nodded, holding onto his body. “I’m sorry about all this.”
He lifted her chin. “Don’t you dare apologize for this! You’re allowed to feel and cry. You’re still healing and I want you to share your feelings and not bury them away.” Greyson gently lowered his lips to hers. “If you need to weep, then I’m here to hold you up and support you.”
Christmas is Killing (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 3) Page 22