Thinking back to the morning, he grinned like a kid at how Emma and Greyson enjoyed listening to his stories of old Vegas. They were tales of the men who used to be in power and the women who loved them. It was a far different time now, but when he looked at the two lovebirds, he saw part of the past.
Emma and Greyson were unique in a town that had become so disgustingly cookie cutter. Everything here had become predictable and lost its luster, until the Crofts had decided to call the city home.
At first, he was worried. Now, he found peace in it all, especially since he’d altered his will. Randall Mason had found a way to give back to the Vegas he’d fallen in love with so many years ago and was giving a precious gift to a woman who saved his life.
Staring up at Aria, he grinned.
“My love, my time is limited. We both know that. I know now that it’ll be honored when I’m gone. I found the perfect person to carry on for me. I think you’d like her too. She’s spunky, just like you.”
Of course, there was no answer.
“When my time is up, there’ll be a new king and queen of Vegas. Oh, and that’s going to stir the entire pot. I’m giving the keys to the corrupt city right to a pair of cops. Oh, I so appreciate the irony.”
His laughter filled the room as he pictured all the people who wanted his place on the social ladder. He almost wished that he would be able to see their faces, when the new power players in the game were none other than the cops they tried to elude.
It was priceless.
“Checkmate, Vegas. I do believe that you’re out of moves.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sunday Evening
To say that he was scared shitless was an understatement. Let’s face it. On the team, he wasn’t the bold and tough one. When it came to interviews, his partner generally took the lead. That’s because Tessa was outspoken, strong, and vibrant.
Then there was him.
Who was he kidding?
If there was a picture of a geek in the dictionary, they could use his ID badge photo under it. When it came to being tough, yeah, he could fight but he tried not to let it go that far. Leading an interview was terrifying.
What if he forgot something?
Or he didn't say the right thing?
Then there was the possibility he’d forget everything all together.
Crap! This was a really bad time to have Tessa pissed at him. Right about now, she would be putting her hand on his wrist, staring at him with her pretty eyes, and telling him it would be okay.
Now, she was sitting silently beside him in the private office of the church, waiting for him to begin. To add to the pressure, there behind him stood two more agents and a homicide detective.
Talk about daunting.
“Mr. Corey, we did a little research on you and found that you have a sordid past. There seems to be a little gang membership, a little bit of drug selling, and then my favorite, the jail time.”
The man said nothing.
“Want to tell us how someone who started up incarcerated ended up becoming a minister?”
“Reverend,” he corrected.
Paris shrugged. “I don’t see the difference.”
The man got angry. “There is a difference! What do you want from me? Someone I cared about is dead, and you’re treating me like a damn criminal!”
Paris achieved what he wanted. He needed to see if the man had a temper, and he had proved it in less than twenty seconds. That had to be a record for him.
“Well, let’s look at the facts then. We had a girl from the shelter that was killed after your congregation visited for a Christmas musical. Your organist disappears only to be one of the victims of the killer. Oh, and you protest a business that had two women disappear from it, and then two more bodies dropped there. You’re either part of this or have some really bad corpse Karma going on, Reverend.”
The man didn't speak.
“I know that we deal with the dead a lot, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone have this many bodies all pointing to them at once. Have you Agent Brass?” He looked over at his partner.
“No, I have to say that this makes you look bad. It’s more like electric chair bad, with a side of ‘going to spend your eternity in hell’ kind of bad.”
The man didn't look entertained.
“Right about now, we need some alibis.”
The man leaned forward. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. I know I’m not guilty. My God knows that I’m not the one doing this, so I’ll let him be my judge.”
Tessa shook her head. “Yeah, there’s a problem with that. See, here in Nevada, God can’t sit on the jury. There’s that little rule that says he has to be real.”
The man was pissed at her comments, and it was plastered all over his face.
Agent Archer continued, “Let’s talk about your mom and dad.”
The man flinched.
Pay dirt! They were onto something.
“When’s the last time you talked to them?” asked Paris, scrolling through his notes. “Do you have a good relationship or bad one?”
Croft watched his agent, unsure where he was heading with it, but so far, he was impressed. The man he was questioning was pissed off and showed that he was easily angered.
People in a rage would do things they normally had control over.
“We don’t talk,” he stated, spitting it out from behind his clenched teeth.
“Gee, why’s that?” Paris continued, setting him up.
The man took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and not lose his temper. “I don’t know, Agent. Why don’t you call them and ask them? Send my regards while you’re at it and wish them a merry Christmas.”
Croft knew something was there. In his mind, he kept thinking ‘come on Paris, dig deeper. Find out what’s bothering him’.
“Well, I don’t believe for one second that you don’t know why. Maybe it has something to do with your brother.”
That drew everyone’s attention, including Reverend Corey.
“Leave him out of this!”
He shrugged. “Yeah, I can’t do that. Want to tell us how he died?” he pushed. Getting ready to hit the man where it would leave a mark- right on his heart.
“I’m done talking to you.”
“Yeah, no you’re not,” interjected Tessa. “What do you have to hide? I mean, you swear that you’re innocent and that ‘God’,” she paused, making the hash marks in the air at the mention of the ‘G’ word, “knows that you’re innocent. So just tell us then.”
“Stop. Mocking. My. Beliefs,” he hissed, punctuating every word, and getting angrier and angrier.
“Was it the drugs?” Paris asked, pushing on. Since he already had the report, he knew what would set the man off.
Reverend Corey said nothing.
“Well, I guess I’ll tell you what I think then. I read the report Mr. Corey. It seems that you were selling to anyone who would buy. One day, you let your brother get a sample, and he became hooked on your merchandise.”
The rage on his face was crystal clear.
Agent Archer continued, “Then, you kept him hooked, being his supplier.”
Tessa shook her head. “You got your own brother addicted to drugs? Wow, that’s pretty low.”
The man’s cheek was twitching.
“Oh, Agent Brass, it gets worse, doesn’t it, Mr. Corey?” He casually flipped screens on his tablet, letting his partner see the file that he had found that related to the case. “Your brother overdosed on the drugs you were feeding him. He stuck a heroin filled needle in his arm and shot up over and over again.”
The room was filled with energy. It was rolling off the reverend wave after wave.
Tessa knew how to make him break. She pulled up the photos attached to the file. Particularly the scene ones, that showed the man dead on his bedroom floor with a needle still in his arm. “You killed your own brother. No wonder your parents don’t talk to you.” At that moment, she turned the tablet around for him to see
.
He moved so fast, diving over the table at her, she had no time to react. He slammed into her, knocking her out of her chair.
Paris saw the motion too late. Before he knew it, the man was on top of his partner and had her pinned to the floor. His hands were around her throat.
Croft jumped in and ripped the man off his agent and slamming him against the wall. “You’re under arrest for attacking a federal agent, Mr. Corey.”
The man screamed in rage.
Paris dropped to the floor to check on his partner, she was getting up. “Tess, are you okay?” he asked softly, his hand cradling her cheek.
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m good. I bit my lip.”
Emma grabbed a box of tissues off the shelf. “Here you go, Tessa.”
Paris took them from her, pulling a few out to hold to her lip. “I’m sorry I handed you the tablet. I should have baited him to go after me instead of you.”
She stared at him. “I’m okay, Paris. The floor is carpeted and I was in the chair, so I didn't have far to fall.”
Croft passed the man off to Briggs. “Call for someone to come get him. He’s going into holding until we figure out his role in all this.”
“You can’t keep me locked up! I didn't do anything!” he raged.
“You put your hands on an agent and hit a woman. I should kick your ass for that.” Croft glanced down at Paris. Or, he could let the woman’s partner do it. He’d seen that look before, and it was unmistakable.
Paris Archer had it bad.
“Good job both of you on pushing his buttons,” stated Emma. “He responded exactly how we needed him to.”
Tessa laughed as she got up from the floor. “Yeah he did. Wow, he’s got a really wicked temper. I didn't even see him moving.”
“I love when they get pissed off,” Emma added. “You can break them far easier in interrogation.”
Croft didn't want to have to watch that. He saw plenty this evening. “Thanks to his background and the little stunt that he just pulled with Tessa, I can get a warrant for tomorrow or Tuesday. Then again, that all depends on the judge.”
“I didn't even get to show him the dead women’s pictures,” stated Tessa. “That’s my favorite part of the interview. I like to see them go green, and then puke.”
Paris shook his head. “She’s serious. It’s a game to her.”
“You’ll get another shot,” Croft offered. “You can interview him in the tank if you want. Bring the pictures.”
That made her day. “Yipee. It’s like Christmas day. Oh wait, that is today,” she joked, looking at her tissue. Fortunately, the bleeding had stopped.
Leaving the room, they noticed a crowd was beginning to gather inside the church. They must have seen their spiritual leader being led away in handcuffs.
“So much for their Christmas program,” Emma said, escaping out into the crisp night air. “Today was one hell of a holiday.”
Croft felt bad that their first one together was marred with death and chaos. Scanning the area, he saw the place they’d eaten the other day.
It was open.
“Anybody hungry?” he asked, pointing to the restaurant.
Paris was standing beside his partner. “Yeah, I didn't eat today.”
Tessa was hungry herself. “I could eat. How’s the food there?” she inquired, seeing how busy it was outside.
Emma wrapped her arm around her husband’s waist. “Does it matter? The boss is buying.”
Curtis raced up. “Did I hear you say he’s buying?”
Croft began laughing. “Yeah, I’m paying for diner. It’s the least I can do since it’s Christmas.”
His wife gave him a pat on the ass. “You’re such a softie.”
All three agents began laughing.
That was something not often heard, when discussing Greyson Croft.
“I try, Emma my sweet,” he whispered in her ear. Then, he followed it up with something X-rated, just because he could.
“I take that back,” she muttered, flushing from his words. Staring at what he’d just pointed out.
Soft didn't quite cover it.
They were seated at a table off from the rest of the diners. When Richard Porter saw them enter his restaurant, he immediately escorted them to the special table where they would have privacy and still be seen.
Having Greyson Croft and his wife dine in his establishment was important.
After all, they were the new Vegas royalty.
Picking the best waiter he had, he made sure to warn him to be attentive and give them anything they wanted.
He made it his priority to check on them continually, assuring they were happy.
Sensing eyes on him, Croft glanced up, to see a smiling man watching them. “I really think he likes having us here a little too much,” he stated laughing.
Emma stared at her menu. “If the media’s outside when we get out, you’ll know he called for the free publicity.”
Briggs snorted. “I’m going to get into the best places in town now,” he snickered, rubbing his hands together.
Croft wouldn’t bet on that. “Yeah, because having you be my other date isn’t a little weird.”
Emma started laughing. “Honey, don’t upset the child. You know how our son looks up to us.”
Tessa started laughing. “I feel like I’m off balance around you three,” she stated honestly. “You’re surly and bossy at work, and then BAM! When we’re away from the grind, you’re completely different.”
Briggs found that entertaining. “Uh, just so you know, he’s cranky all the time. This moment of happiness is because the old age meds kick in for the day.”
Croft glanced over, lifting a brow.
Suddenly, Curtis jumped. “Ouch!” he grabbed his shin.
Everyone looked over at Emma, as she innocently sat there smiling. “That was the warning.”
Greyson kissed his wife. “My hero.”
Paris wondered what it would be like to have that kind of relationship, where he didn't have to overthink every single thing. Glancing over, he studied Tessa as she decided on her dinner.
“Are we ready?” inquired the waiter, with a hovering owner right behind him.
“Ladies,” Croft said, offering it up to the women at the table.
Emma selected a chicken alfredo. She figured her husband would enjoy it, since she rarely finished anything. By the grin on Greyson’s face, she could tell he approved and was already having preemptive thoughts of food theft.
Tess was a creature of habit. “I’ll have the baked chicken with the steamed veggies. No potatoes, please.”
Curtis couldn’t decide. Finally, he went for the lasagna and salad. Now that he was back in the dating pool, he needed to eat more veggies and go back to working out.
Paris went with pasta also. He was fairly easy to make happy when it came to eating. If it had sauce and meatballs, he was generally pleased.
Croft ordered a steak. Since he and Emma had been working on her eating meat again, his dining out had become more pleasurable. What man didn't like a giant piece of cow on his plate?
She cleared her throat.
“With a salad and some sort of fat free dressing.”
His reward was a kiss.
“You’re easy,” she purred in his ear.
Before he could comment back, the owner was holding bottles of wine for them to try.
“No thank you, we’re on duty,” he said. All he needed was an inebriated agent or a media picture showing up with them drinking during a murder investigation.
The owner nodded. “I have to say, this place is becoming a cop hangout.” Then, he laughed. “At least I won’t get robbed and business has been booming!”
Everyone laughed.
When he walked away, they decided to get some business done before dinner came.
“Paris and Tessa, you’re on Bill Turner tomorrow. I want to know how he’s feeling, now that two women showed up in his parking lot.”
“He’s not looking all bright and shiny in all this either,” stated Tessa. “He’s now had contact with two victims and two bodies turn up.”
Emma thought about it. “They’re all front runners on being the killer. At this stage of the game, we don’t have room to eliminate any one yet. I mean, look at the reverend. He’s pretty far ahead of the pack, but there are still others out there.
Croft’s phone rang. “I’m sorry, I have to take this,” he said, walking away from the table.
“He’s a work-a-holic,” stated Briggs.
Emma had to agree. “Yes, he is.”
When his boss called, there was always a damn good reason. “Merry Christmas, Ethan. What can I do for you?”
“I’m calling about an update on the situation. You had the party last night, correct?”
Croft broke it down, telling him all about the commissioner, Randall Mason and what they found out. He also told him about what they knew regarding the kidnapper.
“No more attempts to lure you in?”
Croft thought about it. “No, and I think it’s because everyone assumes I’m in Randall’s pocket already.”
Ethan had to agree. “As long as you’re really not, then run with it. Keeping your wife safe should be your priority. I know it’s a full time job.”
He laughed. “Yeah, it is. Oh, I met your inside man the other day,” Croft added, bringing up Detective Bristol.
“Mace and I go way back. He and I grew up on the Rez. We used to raise hell and Mace was the ladies man.”
“I feel a little better knowing that he’s watching her.”
Blackhawk understood that completely. “My wife was abducted once,” he offered, trying to help the man through it. “It was the roughest six hours of my life.”
He wasn’t telling him anything that he didn't already know. “I felt so damn helpless and like a failure for not keeping her safe. Emma’s tough, but she’s my damn wife. It’s my job in life to protect her. She’s mine.”
Blackhawk laughed. “If you said any of the last part of that sentence around my wife, she’d skin you alive while giggling. We all know who rules this roost, and it’s not Callen or myself.”
“She’s not right there is she?”
Christmas is Killing (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 3) Page 34