by Rebecca Deel
“Does that scare you?” His thumbs gently stroked her cheeks.
He didn’t deny her statement. Could she trust that he knew his heart? “Maybe I should ask you the same question.”
Jake froze, his gaze locked on hers. “Nothing would make me happier than if you were falling in love with me.” He placed a hard kiss on her mouth. “Falling hard and fast for someone alone is scary.”
Lacey inched closer until her mouth brushed against his as she spoke. “You’re not in this alone, Jake.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “Thank God. You’re okay with my job?”
“You could be a cop and face as much danger on the streets as you do on missions.”
“I would have a set time to work and return home. I don’t have that luxury with Fortress. My team can be deployed at any moment, and I don’t know how long we’ll be gone. There’s no guarantee I’ll be home for holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries. A lot of women can’t deal with the uncertainty in their lives.”
“I’m not most women.”
A smile curved his mouth. “No, you aren’t.”
“When will I meet the rest of the Davenports?”
“After your mother is able to fend for herself and Rowan can spare you at the shop.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting your nosy, boisterous family. They sound like fun.”
“I hope you still say that when they tease you unmercifully for being with me.”
“I’ll handle it.” Lacey cast him an uncertain glance. “Is this too fast? We haven’t been on a date yet.”
“Not from my perspective. I’ve been slowly working my way into your life for months, hoping not to spook you.” He squeezed her hand. “Your ex did a number on you, and I didn’t want you to run from me. I would never hurt you.”
“I didn’t think you would.”
Jake shook his head. “That’s not good enough. You have to know that truth deep down or you won’t trust me enough to let me close. And I want to be close to you. I want to be an important part of your life.”
He already was, a truth rocking Lacey to her core. Time to change the subject for a while. She motioned to the computer. “What have you been working on?”
“Reading the report Zane put together on the Becketts.”
Lacey wrinkled her nose. “Can’t be good.”
“It’s not.”
“What did he find?”
“Will should be rotting in prison.”
Her breath caught. “Why?”
“He was on a date with a girl several years ago. The girl, fifteen, died. Will was two days shy of turning 18. Otherwise, he’d be in prison, not tormenting you.”
Lacey threaded her fingers through Jake’s. “How did the girl die?”
“Some kind of sex game gone wrong. The details aren’t in the police report. Z is working on hacking into the medical examiner’s records.”
“You don’t think he’ll be able to break the cybersecurity?”
A soft snort. “Child’s play to Zane. No, I’m more concerned that good old Wayne squashed the details in the report.”
“How? He doesn’t have control of the medical examiner’s office.”
“Maybe not, but he knows powerful people who do. Grease a few palms with enough cash, and things disappear.”
Somehow, that didn’t surprise her. After all, Wayne Beckett managed to keep himself out of police records for years. Although her mother had been his main source of sex outside his marriage for years, he’d never been arrested. “Zane said Will killed this girl. I don’t remember his name being associated with another teenager’s death.”
“The incident occurred in Florida while the Becketts were on vacation the summer before his senior year.”
“I would have been a freshman.”
Jake was silent a moment. “Are you going to tell me about what happened between you and Will?”
The muscles in her back tensed. “I told you. I didn’t hold anything back.”
His gaze dropped to her upper arm.
Lacey scowled. “Okay, I deserved that. Aside from the bruises, I didn’t keep anything from you.”
“Good to know. But I’m not talking about the incident in the hotel parking lot.”
Blood drained from her face. Jake knew.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Lacey looked away from Jake, her face devoid of all expression. His heart skipped a beat, and a depth of anger he’d never known simmered in his gut. What had Will Beckett done to the woman sliding under Jake’s defenses?
He cupped her cheek and turned her face back toward him. “Lacey.”
She shook her head. “I can’t,” she whispered. “Not here.” Her gaze darted to her mother.
“At the hotel, we’ll talk. I need to know.” Her answer would determine how he moved forward with her and whether he needed to pound the pathetic excuse for a cop into the ground for hurting Jake’s woman.
A light tap sounded on the door. Jake positioned himself between the women and the door, hand resting on the grip of his Sig. He relaxed when Cade slipped inside the door.
“Jones and Torres are here. They want to talk to Yvonne.”
“No.” Lacey stood. “They can wait.”
On this, Jake agreed. A few more hours wouldn’t make a difference to the case, but would give Lacey’s mother aid in healing. The doctors had done all they could. Now Yvonne had to rest and let her body mend. If they were lucky, she would remember part of what happened since she was taken. Any clue at this point would be better than what they had discovered so far. He motioned for Lacey to follow him out to the hall.
The detective’s back was pressed against the wall, his eyes closed, exhaustion in every line of his body. Torres, on the other hand, stood straight and tall, sipping from a large to-go cup. Must be cafeteria coffee since nothing was open this time of morning in Winston.
“How is Ms. Coleman?” Torres asked.
“Sleeping.” Lacey folded her arms across her chest. “You’re going to leave her alone until she wakes up on her own or a nurse disturbs her.”
Jones stirred. “We need to talk to her, Lacey. It’s important.”
“I get that. You’re still going to wait. Mom almost died out there. You can give her a chance to rest for a few hours.”
“Every minute we delay, the trail grows colder.”
“It’s already ice cold.” Jake wrapped his arm around his girl’s shoulders and tucked her against his side. Cognizant of the foot traffic near Yvonne’s room, he moved two steps closer to the cops. “Unless something has changed in the past few hours, Yvonne doesn’t remember what happened.”
Torres’ eyebrow rose. “You asked?”
“My girlfriend’s safety is at stake.”
“What did Yvonne say?” Jones demanded.
“She didn’t remember who she was meeting or who hurt her. She mentioned being afraid that ‘he’ would kill her. She’s afraid he’ll find her and finish what he started. Yvonne panics unless I’m within sight or Cade.”
“She has good reason to be worried,” the agent murmured.
“Why do you say that?” Lacey edged closer to Jake.
“Your mother was strangled repeatedly, yet the man didn’t kill her.”
“Not for lack of trying,” Jones muttered.
Torres inclined his head in agreement. “The medical examiner started on causes of death for the women found in the woods. With that many victims, working through all the autopsies is going to take a while. The FBI is sending in a team later today to lend a hand. Meanwhile, the ME’s done enough preliminary work on two of the victims to determine their hyoid bones were broken.”
“What does that mean?” Lacey asked Jake.
“They were strangled to death.”
“Like Mom’s abductor tried to do to her.”
“Now you see why it’s so important we talk to your mother,” Jones said.
“What if she can’t tell you anything?”
“You might be surprised what she does remember when she feels safe and her body is healing.” Torres lifted one shoulder. “We know she’s fragile right now, Lacey. Although we won’t push her too hard, every piece of data she gives us puts us one step closer to finding the man who snuffed out the lives of fifteen innocent women who could be substitutes for you. Are you willing to spare Yvonne and yourself a few minutes of discomfort at the expense of another woman losing her life?”
“That’s enough,” Jake said, his gaze fixed on Brent’s friend. Cade moved into position on Lacey’s other side.
Torres’ eyes glittered as he took in the united front the three of them presented. “I’ll apologize after we put the UNSUB behind bars.”
“Question them, but I won’t let you badger Yvonne or Lacey.”
The door to Yvonne’s room opened and Harley lumbered out, eyes hazy with sleep, his hair standing up in crazy tufts. “Yvonne’s asking for ice.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Cade said and turned toward the nurses’ station.
“We need to talk to her, Harley,” Jones said. “It’s important.”
“I’ll ask if she’s up to it.”
Jake sent a hard glance toward the detective.
Jones held up a hand to Jake. “Thanks. I wouldn’t insist if it weren’t a matter of life or death.”
The mechanic’s eyes widened and he hustled back into the hospital room. A moment later, he returned. “Come on in. You go easy on her, Todd. She’s been through a lot.” Fierce protectiveness gleamed in his gaze. “Cop or not, friend or not, I won’t let you upset her.”
“I understand. We’ll do our best to not traumatize her further.”
With a nod, Harley led the way into the room and returned to his seat. “Yvonne, honey? Todd’s here.”
Lacey’s mother opened her eyes and turned her head slowly to her visitors. “Hey, Todd.”
Jake nudged Lacey back to their seats, content to allow this interview to play itself out. For now. The moment he believed Yvonne was too distressed to continue the interrogation, he’d step in.
“How are you, Yvonne?”
“Lucky to be alive, I think.”
“You are correct,” Torres said. “My name is Rafe Torres. I’m with the FBI.”
She frowned. “Why do you want to talk to me?”
After a glance at Harley, Jones clasped her uninjured hand. “We need to ask you questions about what happened.”
She dropped her gaze to the sheet and blanket covering the lower half of her body. “I don’t remember anything.”
“Let us ask questions anyway. If you don’t remember, say so. We need you to be honest, Yvonne.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“I’m afraid not,” Torres said. “There’s a reason why we need to ask now. Let’s run through the questions first, then we’ll explain the urgency.”
Yvonne’s gaze darted to Jake, fear evident in her expression even from across the room.
“It’s important for your safety and Lacey’s. Tell them the truth.”
Her eyes widened. “Lacey?”
“She’s at risk, too. Your fractured memories might hold the key to protecting your daughter.”
“You’ll stay?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’d prefer to talk to her without an audience,” Jones muttered.
“That’s not going to happen.”
A scowl. “You don’t trust me?”
“This is not about you. It’s about helping Yvonne feel safe.” He glanced at his watch. “And you’d better ask your questions. The nurse will be in soon to administer the next dose of pain meds. Once Yvonne takes those, she’ll be out again within minutes and you’ll be forced to wait another few hours for answers.”
Cade walked into the room at that moment, a plastic pitcher, cup, and a spoon in his hands. He set them on the table beside Harley. “There’s more where that came from, Yvonne. Let me know if you need a refill.” With that, he left the room to stand watch in the hall.
Harley fed his bride-to-be a couple ice chips and settled back again, his gaze watchful.
“What do you want to know?” Yvonne asked, her gaze shifting to the detective.
“Harley said you left your house Friday night at 10:45 p.m. to meet someone. Who was it?”
She looked at Harley, as though seeking the answer from him.
“Yvonne,” Torres said. “Look at me. Any information has to come from you. We need to know what you remember, unprompted by anyone. Who did you meet?”
“I don’t know. I can’t remember. Why can’t I remember?”
“You’re still healing. It’s normal. You may not remember everything, but you will recall a few things that might be a game changer in our investigation. Let’s try this. What was the last thing you remember prior to leaving Harley at your house?”
Yvonne bit her lip, discomfort evident in her expression.
Torres smiled. “Besides spending some personal time with Harley. Start with what you did leading up to going to Harley’s the night you were taken.”
Immediately, she relaxed. “I went to work first thing that morning. I work the early shift at the diner.”
“How long is your shift?”
“From 6:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon.”
“Like working there?”
“I love it. Loretta and I have a great time talking to folks and making sure they enjoy their meal. It’s fun.”
“Both shifts are busy?”
“Oh, the diner is usually packed except for a lull from 9:30 to 10:30, then the lunch rush starts. The place is a dive, but rich people and poor alike love the food we serve.”
“You like working there?”
Yvonne beamed. “We’re family. It’s like having a family reunion every day with food I don’t have to cook.”
“Anyone come into the diner who makes you uneasy or afraid?”
Jake had to admire the way Torres circled away from the topic of the abduction although he poked at the edges of what or who made her afraid since that’s what she remembered clearly. What were the chances that the person who hurt Yvonne ate in that diner each week?
“I need more ice.” She turned to Harley. “My mouth is so dry.”
She was also avoiding the question. Jake exchanged glances with the cops. “Yvonne, does the diner have security cameras?”
Lacey’s mother took the ice, a thoughtful expression on her face. “We have one pointed at the register and two more pointed at the doors. Why?”
Perfect. Now they had at least something to scan for a starting point, although he figured the net would catch a lot of fish. He’d bet most of the town dropped into the diner during a typical week based on what she’d said earlier. “Information. Who are your standard customers at the diner?”
“You want a list?”
“Not all of them. Who pops in your mind first?”
Her lips curled. “Cops. All of them stop in there at one point or another all day and night.”
Jones’ eyes narrowed. “During our shifts, for sure. I’m in there several times a week. The diner is close to the station and it’s the only place in town with good coffee 24 hours a day.”
“What about the coffee shop I saw when I drove into town?” Torres asked.
“Sludge,” Harley said, shaking his head. “The coffee in that place reminds me of oil from a past-due oil change.”
“Who else comes to mind, Yvonne?” Jake prompted. He recognized the signs of growing fatigue. The window for questions was closing fast.
“Just the usual crowd. People who work in nearby businesses or stop in during the day between appointments or meetings.” She shrugged. “Pretty much everybody.”
“Anyone hassle you at work?” Jones asked.
“Who doesn’t? There’s always someone who doesn’t like something they order and blame the waitress.”
“You’re an attractive woman, Yvonne, and pretty waitresses usually get hit on frequentl
y. Do you have a persistent man trying to win a date and won’t take no for an answer?”
“Well, sure. But they don’t mean anything by it. The guys are just messing with me.”
“How do you know they aren’t serious?” Torres asked.
“They just aren’t.”
“Did you know any of the missing women?”
Sadness filled her gaze. “Some of them. This is a small, close-knit community. We know each other. You’ve got to love small towns. We nose into each other’s business. Yeah, I talked to them a few times.”
“At the diner?”
“Told you, everyone comes in there, including the girls. I don’t want to talk about them. It’s too sad.”
Jake noted her choice of words. Was talking about the women sad because she believed they were still missing or did she subconsciously know those women were the victims of a serial killer?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Lacey listened to the rounds of questions from Agent Torres and Todd, confused as to the purpose for all the seeming side trips. She could tell her mother was tired. The police needed to finish the questions or Mom would fade and they would again be waiting for her to wake.
“Who’s been asking about Lacey?” Torres asked.
Lacey jerked. What did that have to do with anything? This was her hometown. People talked. They would ask her mother questions about her daughter.
“I talk about her all the time.”
She stared at her mother. Since when did Yvonne Coleman brag about her daughter? What happened to the woman who pushed Lacey to send her money and get a real job?
“Anyone ask about her consistently?”
“Paul Chesterfield.” She wrinkled her nose. “The police chief and his son. The preacher at the church. Harley, of course. Noah Holt.”
Huh. Lacey hadn’t talked to Noah for years. Didn’t want to, either. He was one of the ring leaders of the teens who lived to torture the daughter of the town’s infamous call girl during high school. He was also one of the reasons Lacey had been glad to leave Winston behind in her dust when she left town.
Beside her, Jake stiffened. “What did Chesterfield want to know?”