Perfect Reflection

by Jana Leigh

The men looked at each other but didn’t argue, instead they all filed out of the room. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until they left. Damn men. Too bad she didn’t have any female friends to talk to, this one would have been worthy of a phone call and bitch session, as it was, Jewel was on her own.

  ***

  She waited for them to leave before she walked back into her bedroom. Damn, where was her suitcase. Searching she finally found it tucked away in the closet, someone must have moved it. She pulled it and picked it up, making it flop on her bed.

  With a sigh, she opened the zipper and then stepped back in shock. On the top was a baggie; it held a necklace she knew was not hers. Bending forward she looked at it closely, making sure she didn’t touch it. Jewel looked around for a pen to move it with.

  Using the pen with the hotel name on it, Jewel turned it over and she stood back and gasped. Shit, she knew this necklace; it had been one she wore when she was a teen. What the fuck was going on? It was a silver chain that had a circle pendant with the words My Princess scrolled on the front with a cheap stone in the center. Josh had won it for her at a carnival; she had worn it proudly until it had turned her neck green. Where had she lost it? she wondered, it had been so long ago, who knew.

  Digging into the side of her bag carefully, she pulled out her small murder bag she carried at all times. It held a pair of gloves and other things needed if she had to process a scene while on the run.

  Finally picking up the bag, she looked at it closer. When she pushed on the edge a little with her finger, she saw the smear of blood come off the edge. Shit, someone was sending her a message, it had to be the killer, but she had no clue what the hell it meant.

  She saw a small piece of paper attached to the edge of it. WHORE NUMBER ONE, it said and she frowned. Was she the whore?

  Chapter Ten

  “Just a bit more and all will be forgiven,” the Redeemer said as he held the knife in his hand. He had loved to see how far he could push this one; shifter DNA was amazing. For hours, he cut, burned, beat, and fucked this woman into submission. The fact that she healed after every instance was amazing, well, until he began to push it. Blood loss would kill a shifter if they were drained, the Redeemer found out. Her sobs meant nothing to him.

  He pulled her skin taunt over her arms again when the wound closed too much. He smiled, then registered the groan she made when he pressed the sharp edge against her arm. “What do you have to confess?”

  He laughed while she mumbled and spoke to him of all of her transgressions—the first ones he had been able to listen to for the humans died after the first time he cut them, shifters were so much better.

  When he had returned from making a show for the people who would never know that he was the Redeemer, he had been pissed. After all these killings, the police still had no idea what they were doing. Possibly, maybe these cases were connected. What the fuck? They should have realized he was not playing games, so he did the only thing he could, and made sure the whore found something that would begin to tie things together.

  Damn, they were stupid, it was as if he had to draw them a fucking map, hell, even then they probably wouldn’t be able to solve this case, let alone fight their way out of a paper bag. How did she make detective in the first place?

  Madeline had cried when he fucked her, it was like she didn’t like it, the bitch. However, it had taken the edge off, maybe it was because when he fucked her before, she hadn’t been tied up and bloody. Who gave a shit, she was dirt under his feet, all of the whores were, he was sick of wasting time with them; they should be thanking him for picking them.

  He refused to put his clean clothes back on when she had soiled him with her blood and fluids. So he stood over her naked now and studied the way his cum dripped off her stomach mixed with her blood. It fascinated him, three times during her confession, when he made her tell him specifics with other men, the Redeemer had gripped himself while cutting her and jacked off spraying her with his seed to help cleanse her. It surprised him that listening to the woman cry and whimper made him so excited.

  At first, he thought it was wrong, but the rightness of his erections made him rethink. No, it was natural to become stiff during torture. Read any of the books from psychologists, pain and pleasure were released from the same area of the brain, so naturally it was fine. That was good too, because through this process he had thought of other ways to make women talk.

  After he was done and the object of his thoughts was taken care of he could move on, evolve to bigger things. It was imperative he took care of his distraction. She was not worth the time he was expending into planning for her death, she wouldn’t appreciate it, she would think he was crazy.

  It was time to move on and end this. First he would take care of this female, setting up Wexford a little more, and then the finale. She would be waiting for him with bated breath. He was sure she would figure it out soon; he left her enough clues if she looked.

  “Now, once again,” the Redeemer said, focusing back on the task-at-hand. Madeline needed him; she needed him to pay attention to her, and no one else. She deserved it.

  As the blood dripped from her arm, he felt her beginning to become weaker and weaker. Soon it would all be over for her. He leaned over and tapped her lightly on the face until her eyes opened. “Once again.”

  She cried as he gripped himself again. When she cried and began to mumble, he thought about her earlier words as he pumped himself. Madeline didn’t know what a gift he was giving her. She would soon though. As he felt his balls draw up, he knew he was going to come.

  “As the Redeemer, I give you the greatest gift of all. Death with a clear conscience,” he said and held the knife with one hand and finished himself off with the other. As he raised his arm with the knife, her eyes widened, acceptance glittered in her eyes, she knew she was going to die. He grinned and came while he brought the knife down for one last slash and cut her throat deeply as his cock pulsed in his hand, wringing every last drop from his body, the life went out of her eyes and she died.

  The power he felt surge through him with her death was amazing. He was the Redeemer; no one could touch him, because he was more powerful than any wolf on the planet. He had been chosen to bear this burden and he would never stop. The women who betrayed their mates deserved it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jewel was running in the woods feeling the wind rush through her fur. She loved when she could let her wolf run free. She ran up to the creek where she could lay down and rest after killing her dinner. Jewel heard the wolves approaching from behind her. She got up quietly, putting her back to the creek.

  Jewel knew that if she had to, she could run, jump into the creek, and allow the rushing water to carry her downstream away from the danger. She was watching as two wolves approached her. One wolf was as black as midnight while the other wolf had brown fur. Both of the wolves were bigger than Jewel.

  She knew she couldn’t beat them, but she could outsmart them. Jewel started backing up toward the water as she continued to watch the wolves. Before she could jump into the water, both of the wolves changed into men. There before her stood Retten and Lex.

  After she transformed, she whispered, “What do you want?”

  “You are ours,” Ret growled and stalked toward her, both of them circling her and breathing deeply. “We are here to claim you as our Alpha female, the tri-leader of the NYC Pack and Atlanta Pack.”

  Jewel laughed and stepped forward boldly, it was as if she had done this before. “Really? Do you have what it takes to be my mate?”

  “Oh, we have more than what it takes,” Lex growled and she laughed. “Enough teasing, mate, we are ready for you to come home.”

  “But I am home,” she said innocently and held out her hands to embrace the woods around her.

  “You know what I mean, it is time for the ceremony,” Lex growled and she gasped when he kissed her neck from behind while Ret stepped to her front.

  “A few more
minutes?” she said and then sank to her knees while she grinned.

  “Shit,” Ret said when she swiped at his cock with her tongue.

  She pulled back, and then took Ret in her mouth, while she grasped Lex. She loved the feel of one of their cocks sliding in her mouth, while holding the other one. A few more hours and they were going to be joined, mated in front of both of their packs.

  Ret wrapped his hand in her hair and started to move. Rex reached down, covered her hand with his, and started to guide her hand to the pace he wanted.

  “Baby, suck me,” Ret groaned, and moved a little faster, but Jewel pulled back and switched, taking Lex in her mouth.

  “Fuck,” Lex cried out and leaned toward her, and then began to move. Back and forth, she teased the men until they were both almost ready to come, then she stopped and leaned back.

  “My turn,” she grinned, and laughed when both men groaned and then laughed along with her.

  “It's your turn alright,” Ret said, and knelt in front of her, then leaned forward and grabbed one of her legs and raised it over his shoulder spreading her wide for him. Lex gripped her shoulders, helped her steady herself, and then rubbed his hands over her straining nipples. Ret smiled at her before leaning to lick her folds from front to back. “Paybacks are a bitch.”

  She moved slowly as they focused their attention on her. She was in heaven, Ret lapped at her pussy taking slow and long passes of her opening, missing her clit on purpose, while Lex cupped her breasts and kissed her neck, whispering into her ear how much they loved her. She tried to move so Ret would get to where she wanted, but he held her waist and legs firmly. Finally, when she thought she was going to have to tell him where to go, he circled her clit with his tongue.

  Ret growled and nipped her inner thigh when she squirmed against him, and as if they were reading each other’s mind, they both sucked at once, Ret her clit, and Lex her ear while plucking her nipples.

  Just when she thought she was going to come, they both stopped and looked up at her and smiled. “Assholes,” she growled and then pushed their heads back to where they were. Both men chuckled but got down to business quickly. She was perfect for them they said to her and she grinned, no, she was the lucky one.

  Lex turned her head and took her mouth in a deep, exploring kiss, while his hands worked her breasts, squeezing and pinching the nipples bringing them to a peak. Ret once again worked on her pussy. He continued to suck on her clit, while he inserted first one finger and then two, inside her. He moved them in rhythm with his mouth and soon she was on the edge again.

  “Harder!” she cried and then screamed in frustration, when both of them pulled back.

  “Baby, have a little patience,” Ret said, stood and bent over her and kissed her. The buzzing in her head made her frown, what was that noise she wondered?

  “FUCKIN’ A” She yelled and punched her pillow, she was dreaming. She had almost came in her dream, too, disappointed she sat up and turned her head, damn alarm, she thought, and threw the small clock across the room, thankfully it hit a chair and bounced on the floor, probably cost a hundred bucks and she was throwing it.

  Jewel took a fast shower then got ready. She needed to eat breakfast today. She would need her strength to fight off the hormones she had toward Wexford and Doyle. Jewel was determined to fight this attraction off until they solved the case, mating would take a back seat to that. She missed her cabin in the country. Jewel needed to rekindle her spirit and she knew she could do that at the cabin. Her wolf needed to run free and release the pent up aggression she felt.

  She walked out of her bedroom to the smell of sausage, bacon, and eggs. Jewel loved breakfast and these were her favorite foods.

  Benny sat at the table reading the newspaper as he ate his breakfast. He looked up as Jewel came into the room. She was already dressed and ready for work.

  Jewel looked down at the food then looked up at Benny and smiled. “How did you get in here?”

  “I asked the waiter, and I won’t leave until you go home. Remember I always told you that I would be here for you. You needed me and I’m here. I never forget a promise,” said Benny.

  “Thanks, Benny. I’m going to take this one day at a time. I can’t concentrate on them and their mate problems. I’m here for a job. I plan to finish what I’ve started and this case isn’t over.” Jewel sat down at the table, pulled the covers off the other plates, and smiled at the food under them.

  The front door opened as Vander came in smiling. “Great, you’re up and ready. I’m starved, too; did you order something for me?” Vander asked as he sat down at the small table of food.

  “How the fuck are you all just walking into my room?” she grumbled, not that it would have mattered, her best friends were welcome.

  “Of course I did. Since it’s on Wexford’s dime, we will enjoy the food and amenities here,” Benny said as he put the newspaper away and started to eat.

  “Are either of you going to answer my damn question,” Jewel said as she looked back and forth between the men.

  “Nope,” they said in unison and chuckled.

  Jewel smiled and shook her head as they sat there in silence eating. Then a knock at the door expelled the good mood that Jewel was feeling.

  Vander walked to the door eating a piece of toast. He opened it to Lex. He smiled at Vander. “Come in, Captain. We are finishing breakfast and then we will be ready to go with you to the office.”

  Lex walked into the room and made eye contact with Jewel. “How are you feeling this morning?” Lex asked as he smiled at her.

  “Better, thanks for helping me yesterday. If you will give us a few more minutes to finish up we will be ready to go.” Jewel stood from the table and went into her bedroom.

  Vander finished his breakfast, put coffee into a cup to take with him as Jewel walked out of the bedroom putting her gun back into her holster, and then picked up her bag with her files inside it. She put the baggie in there also; she needed to show them this. But she wanted them out of her room, the murder board she had set up in there was her secret, she was beginning to think she was going crazy, something was bothering her about this case, something she should be seeing. Last night she studied the photos of the crime scenes again, and couldn’t figure it out, after a bottle of wine later and a long bath, she felt tired and worn out. At least she had her wits about her this morning.

  Lex never took his eyes off Jewel. She didn’t make eye contact with him. She was going to try to make as little conversation as she could with him. “Vander, are you and Benny ready?” asked Jewel.

  Lex looked back at Jewel, shocked that she asked Benny to go to his office. “Benny, I didn’t know you were also working this case?”

  “Well let’s just say this case became more interesting to me.” Benny picked up his bag and walked to the door.

  “Okay, Captain, we are ready,” Jewel said as she walked past him opening the door. Lex didn’t like that Jewel wouldn’t make eye contact with him or allow him to even open the door for her. All four of them walked out of the room and onto the elevator.

  Jewel never looked up at Lex. “Captain, we would like to see the two murder scenes as well today.”

  Lex narrowed his eyes at Jewel, but she never looked up to see that he was disappointed in how she was treating him. He didn’t like that she continued to call him Captain and not Lex. “Jewel, if you don’t mind, can you call me Lex.”

  Jewel took her phone out checking her e-mail. She never looked up at Lex. “I would like to keep this professional, so I will continue to call you Captain.”

  Vander and Benny smiled at each other knowing that Jewel was in rare form. She was trying to let Lex know that she wanted nothing to do with him on a personal basis yet.

  Lex rolled his shoulders back as he looked away from Jewel. During the ride to the police station, Jewel sat in the back seat and talked with Benny while Vander sat up front with Lex.

  Lex parked in the employees parking deck. He advise
d them in the elevator that they would need to sign in at the front desk and get passes to walk through the department. Lex walked with them to the front desk and retrieved ID badges for them, then escorted them to the Detective Division. When they’d entered the police department, all the men looked toward Jewel as she walked past them. Jewel didn’t even realize she was beautiful or that she was getting a lot of attention from the male officers.

  Lex took them into the Detective Division meeting room, which was used to look over cases and brainstorm. The room was decked out with a sixty-inch TV and several eraser boards spread around the room with tables and chairs located in the middle. Jewel and Vander sat down at one of the tables, pulling their charts out and their reports with pictures, while Benny sat on the other side of Jewel so Lex couldn’t sit on either side of her.

  “I had a copy of the case files sent to this room so we would have easy access to them. This room is set up to put different case files on the screen so they can be beside each other or however you want to do this,” Lex said, looking at Jewel, trying to get her to talk to him.

  “That would be great for us, Captain,” Jewel said. Lex sighed because Jewel had called him by Captain again. She walked to one of the boards and taped each of the victim’s pictures up, then wrote their names and date of the incident along with the location of where the body was found underneath each picture. She had done the same thing in her room so she knew what to write.

  Lex pulled out the New York victims’ pictures and placed them beside her pictures, placing the information underneath the pictures.

  Lex pulled out the case files and pulled out the laptop that could be used for the TV. Lex started placing the information into the computer, completing a Victimolgy Report from each victim.

  Jewel walked over to the board and wrote Retten Wexford on the board underneath the pictures then she drew a line from each victim to Wexford’s name. She turned around and looked at Lex. He could read her mind.