On the Hunt

by SUE FINEMAN

  “What in the hell did you get her into? If you hurt my sister, I’ll—”

  Mia’s kick in the side of Greg’s knee brought a bout of swearing. Greg pushed himself to his feet and limped out the door.

  Mia locked the door behind her youngest brother. “The neighbors probably think I’ve gone crazy.”

  Dave shook his head. “I can’t believe the captain is letting someone with your talent leave the department.”

  “I don’t want to work there again, Dave. No matter what I do, I can’t measure up to my father’s reputation. He was a great guy and a good cop, but they’ve elevated him to sainthood.”

  “Is that why you went to Clover Hills?”

  “That and to give the family of the dead kid time to cool down. The youngest brother will be back. I’d like to kidnap Michael and take him away from the gang, away from his family, away from this place. He’ll end up dead or in prison like the others, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.”

  “What about a foster home?”

  “He beat up his last foster father. Broke his nose. The social workers are afraid to place him in another home.”

  “We can’t save them all, Mia.”

  “I know.”

  Greg had ruined their playful mood, but Mia still longed for Dave to touch her and make love to her.

  Dave reached for her hand and they walked into her bedroom. Without another word, Dave undressed and draped his clothes across the chair in the corner of the room. Mia stepped out of her flannel pants and stripped off the T-shirt, revealing a trim body with the perfect amount of feminine curves. Her skin felt silky smooth as he ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. “You’re absolutely beautiful,” he whispered, and she was. Her breasts were the perfect size for her slender body and she wore a gold ring in her cute little belly button. Scanning his body, she smiled as if someone had handed her a big box of chocolates, which he intended to do as soon as he had time to buy one. It would be so easy to fall in love with this woman, but she wasn’t ready to talk of love. She was still nursing her wounded pride from the last man she’d allowed herself to love.

  She reached around him to pull back the sheet and comforter, crawled between the sheets, and slid over to the other side. He put a condom on the nightstand and turned out the light before getting into bed. Their arms found each other and their naked bodies pressed together as he stroked and kissed the most appealing woman he’d ever met. Her hands played over his chest and shoulders and then lower, over his stomach, until they reached his erection.

  “You’re so big,” she whispered.

  “That’s because he likes you.”

  “Does he?” Dave heard the laughter in her voice.

  “Can’t you tell?”

  “There’s only one way to really tell.”

  He grinned. “You mean like show and tell in school?”

  She giggled. “I can’t picture you showing this...” She ran her fingers up and down his erection. “... in school.”

  His mouth found her aroused nipples and his hand moved to her belly button, over the gentle swell of her stomach, and through the nest of black curls. She opened for him and moaned when he touched her there. “Please,” she begged, and he slid his fingers inside her tight little body. She rode his hand and contracted around him.

  “Please,” she whispered again. “I want the rest of you.” In seconds, he had the condom on and plunged inside her. “Yes,” she whispered, meeting every one of his strokes with one of her own. Her wild passion fueled him and drove him deeper and deeper, harder and harder, until he felt her squeeze around him. Only then did he let himself go.

  He held her body against the length of his, unwilling and unable to let go of her. He’d had sex with a lot of women, mostly blondes, but none made him feel this good. “Can we go dancing again tomorrow and the day after and the day after and...”

  Her sexy laugh crept inside him, caressing and warming him, and he wanted to keep her in his arms forever.

  They made love two more times that night, each time better than the last, and Dave had never felt more satisfied. Thank God she hadn’t married the snob from Boston.

  <>

  Greg called at nine the next morning while Dave was in the shower. “Can you behave yourself?” asked Mia. “Because if you can’t, I don’t want to see you.”

  “Hey, sis, I’m not your enemy.”

  “That’s not what it felt like last night. If you say one word about me and Dave being together, you’ll be walking funny, and don’t you dare hide behind Mom and Neen.”

  Soft swearing came over the phone. Mia knew he didn’t want her with Dave. “I know he likes blondes, and I know this isn’t permanent, so just back off, Greg.”

  “I don’t want him to hurt you, Mia.”

  “It won’t be the first time I’ve been hurt. Did I butt into your love life? Did I tell you not to see Neen? Did I try to break you apart?”

  Several seconds of silence from the other end said Greg didn’t have an answer. “I know you’re looking out for me, but this is my life, not yours, Greg. Mind your own business.”

  “And they call me hard-assed. We’ll see you at the hospital at ten-thirty. Which floor is she on?”

  “Fourth floor, J wing. There’s a waiting area near the elevators. We’ll meet you there. Okay?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  For a second before he hung up, Mia thought Greg might apologize, but he didn’t. Greg never apologized for anything. He told her once it was a guy thing, but that was nonsense. It was a Greg thing, but she loved him anyway and he knew it.

  Dave came out rubbing his hair with a towel. He had another one wrapped around his waist, and he looked yummy enough to eat for breakfast. “Was that Greg on the phone?”

  “Yes, we’re supposed to meet them at the hospital at ten-thirty. That gives us time for breakfast, or...” She cocked her head and gave him a slow smile.

  He licked his lips and reached for her. “I’d rather eat you, you little minx.”

  The smell and taste of clean man mingled with the heady scent of sex as they rolled around on the messy bed, kissing and stroking until she couldn’t wait any longer. She pushed him onto his back, pulled a condom on his bulging erection, and slid down his body until they were tightly joined together. He grabbed her behind and drove himself deeper and deeper until Mia thought she’d die of pleasure.

  Dave rolled them over, whispered, “Wrap your legs around me, honey,” and gave her more and more until they came together in a glorious climax.

  Never had sex been this good, but none of the other men she’d been with had been this one.

  <>

  Greg paced in the waiting area when Mia and Dave arrived at the hospital. “Where’s Mom?” asked Mia.

  “In the room with Mrs. Snyder. Neen went out to the airport.” Greg glared at Dave, but didn’t speak to him. “Mia, Mom wants you to come back with us.”

  “No.”

  “Aw, come on, sis. You’re off work.”

  “I said no. Which word didn’t you understand?”

  Pinning Dave in a stare, Greg said, “I thought you were a friend.”

  Mia held up both hands. “Stop it, Greg. Just stop it.” She walked down the hall toward Mrs. Snyder’s room, leaving the two men alone. From the intensity of Greg’s reaction, she suspected it wouldn’t be a friendly exchange.

  Mom sat beside Mrs. Snyder’s bed. A huge grin spread on her face when Mia walked in. After a long, warm hug, Mom said, “I was just telling your grandmother that you’re coming to Texas with us this afternoon.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Greg.”

  “Who made him the boss of my life?” She wouldn’t go, of course. How dare he use Mom like this?

  <>

  Dave had seen Greg angry before, but the rage flashing in his eyes said the obvious. He didn’t want his sister sleeping with his college roommate.

  “She’s old enough to know what s
he wants. What we do together is none of your fucking business.”

  “Are you willing to marry her, to take her home to your family, to give her kids and security?”

  Dave held up both hands, palms out. “Whoa there. We’re a long way from happily ever after.”

  Greg’s hands fisted at his sides. “If you don’t love her, then stay the hell away from her. She’s coming back to Texas with us.”

  “That’s up to her, isn’t it?”

  “Go to hell, Montgomery.” Greg walked away and Dave dropped into a chair where he could see the hallway to Mrs. Snyder’s room. Instead of going to the room and risking a confrontation with Greg in front of a frail old lady, he waited there.

  The intensity of Greg’s feelings surprised Dave. He wasn’t Mia’s first lover, and he hadn’t pushed her into doing anything she didn’t want to do. Dave fumed. His best friend didn’t think he was good enough to date his sister.

  Did he love Mia? Maybe. Probably, but it was too soon to be sure. Although they’d known each other for years, they’d never had an opportunity to explore the possibilities until now.

  Greg came striding down the hall toward him, and Dave didn’t move. From the look on his face, Mia had jumped all over him. “Did they throw you out, Gregory?”

  Slumping into a chair, Greg said, “Shut up, Montgomery.”

  “She’s one hell of a cop and one hell of a lover, and I couldn’t stop now if I wanted to. And I don’t want to. I’m crazy about her, Greg.”

  “Where have I heard that before?” Greg leaned forward. “Look, Dave, we need to talk.”

  Dave sat back and listened.

  <>

  After Greg left the room, Mia and her mother sighed in unison. “He’s so intense sometimes,” said Mom.

  “I know.” Mia and her mother had both told Greg to stop sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong. “I can’t go to Texas right now. I have work to do here first.”

  “But I thought you were on leave.”

  “I was, but I quit my job, and things are happening in Clover Hills—bugs in Aunt Leona’s house, the fire, and the chief of police is out to get Dave. Whatever is going on there may be connected to an arrest I made in Tacoma. I need to be there, Mom. I need to study the arrest records and see if it triggers any memories.”

  “Have they found any of the girls?” asked Mom.

  “Maybe. The Portland police pulled a body out of the Columbia River a couple weeks ago. Dave’s people think it might be one of the missing girls.”

  “Which one?” asked Mrs. Snyder.

  “Nadine Lynderman. The FBI lab is trying to get a positive ID. They haven’t notified her family yet, so don’t say anything.”

  Mom squeezed her hand. “Be careful, Mia.”

  “I’ll be all right, Mom. I’ll be with Dave.”

  Mia’s mother leaned toward her. “I hope it works between you and Dave, honey. He’s such a nice boy.”

  “I wish Greg thought so.”

  “When are you coming to Texas?” asked Mrs. Snyder.

  “As soon as this case is over, I’m leaving Tacoma for good.”

  Mom beamed, and Mia knew she’d hoped for this. She wanted her family with her in Texas. Chance wouldn’t leave because his wife’s family and his law practice were in Tacoma, but he’d always been a little distant, a sober island in a sea of happy people.

  With a big hug for Mom and another for her grandmother, Mia said goodbye and walked out to the waiting area to see Dave and Greg laughing about something. They’d made up. Good. She didn’t want her brother and her lover to fight over her.

  Greg stood and reached out for a hug, and Mia stepped into his arms. He swung her around like a rag doll. “If you want to come to Texas, all you have to do is call. Neen said she’d come get you.”

  “Give her a hug for me.”

  Mia walked to Dave’s side and the two men shook hands. She knew Greg was apprehensive about their relationship, but he had to learn to mind his own business. Her affair with Dave probably wouldn’t last, but she’d deal with that when the time came.

  <>

  After a quick stop at her apartment, Dave drove Mia back to Clover Hills, into the thick of an investigation that had expanded from missing persons to murder.

  Kowalski used the game room behind the restaurant as a command post, so the agents could go in and out the back door without interfering with the restaurant’s business. They couldn’t use the small police station with the police chief in the holding cell where he could see and hear everything.

  After speaking with his men and checking on progress in the case, Dave walked down to the police station. Ross Jefferson sat at the desk. His face lit up when he saw Dave. “Hey, you look different.” Dave wore navy wool slacks, loafers, and a light blue sweater. With his beard gone and wearing his own clothes, he felt more like himself.

  “Has the prisoner had a shower recently?”

  “No, sir. You said—”

  “We’ll do it now.”

  Dave stood and watched while the prisoner showered, and then he called the Four Leaf Clover and ordered dinner for Ross and the chief of police.

  The three of them sat at the table together. Dave waited until Knight had wolfed down most of his dinner before saying, “We found Nadine Lynderman’s body.”

  The man froze, fork halfway to his mouth, and Dave waited a few seconds before continuing. “Now we’re talking murder, or accessory to murder.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  “I want to know what in the hell is going on. Who took the girls and where can we find the other two?”

  “I can’t help you.”

  “Then I can’t help you.” Dave reached over and took the remains of Knight’s dinner and dropped it into the garbage can.

  “You can’t treat me like this.”

  “You’re not going to tip off your buddies so they can kill the other two girls.” Dave put his face in Knight’s and held up his thumb and forefinger. “I am this close to making you disappear, and I guarantee no one would ever find your body. You got that, asshole?”

  Fear flickered in the man’s eyes. “If I talk to you, they’ll kill me.”

  Dave shoved him back in the cell and slammed the door. Without another word, he walked back to the hotel. He was playing with fire with that bastard. He could not only lose his job, he could end up in prison himself, but he wouldn’t back down. He couldn’t. They needed Knight’s help to find Tonya Ayers and Meredith Cooper.

  He hoped they were still alive.

  <>

  While Dave worked with his men, Mia sat in the corner of the game room and studied the printout of her arrest records. Concentrating on the arrests from the past three years, she eliminated them one by one, until she had a dozen cases, all in or around the strip club Al owned. It would help if she had some idea what to look for, but she didn’t. Had she seen something she wasn’t supposed to see?

  She’d made four of those arrests in the past four months, since Tonya Ayers had disappeared, so she focused on them. The first one was the incident where the man grabbed the dancer’s breast and then complained she’d assaulted him. She saw the girl in her mind, the bruises on her breast, and the man’s angry face. The club manager had insisted they take the dispute outside, but Mia stood her ground. She didn’t want a half-naked woman standing outside in the parking lot, and she didn’t care if he lost business because the police were there. If Mia had her way, she’d shut the place down for good.

  The woman wasn’t one of the four she’d spoken with last night, but strippers moved from club to club, sometimes from city to city. The ones she knew didn’t stay in one place too long. Some of them sold sex on the side. It wasn’t legal, but everyone knew it happened, although a girl with the right look and personality could make good money stripping without resorting to prostitution. Mia understood the desperate circumstances that brought some women to the life. Others did it because they loved the attention and excitement. Whate
ver the reason, it would never pay enough for her to consider doing it.

  She couldn’t picture sweet little Tonya Ayers taking her clothes off in a room filled with men. Dancing maybe, but not stripping. Mia had never met Meredith Cooper or the dead girl, Nadine Lynderman, but their smiling faces lay on the table in front of her, in the pictures their families had produced for the FBI investigation. Pretty girls, with pale skin, blue or green eyes, and blond or red hair. Interesting.

  Dave walked over and asked, “Find anything?”

  “Not yet. Have you noticed all three girls were fair? You don’t suppose...”

  “What? That he’s taking orders?” said Dave. “It has crossed my mind.”

  “Why would they risk having the girls strip in public?”

  Dave shrugged. “Maybe it’s part of their training, to show them how to please men.”

  Mia stared at Nadine’s picture. “And maybe they sacrificed Nadine to make the other two cooperate. If they were taken by the same people.”

  She looked up at Dave and their eyes locked, pulling her focus away from the missing girls and onto the incredible night they’d spent together.

  Kowalski walked over and cleared his throat. Dave pulled his gaze from Mia and they listened to Kowalski. “One of our undercover agents thinks he may have spotted Meredith Cooper in Seattle. If it’s her, she’s with three other girls and two swarthy men with bulges under their jackets.”

  Mia asked, “Did he see Tonya Ayers?”

  Kowalski shook his head. “He couldn’t identify any of the others.”

  “Where are they now?” asked Dave.

  “The ship they boarded was blocked from leaving port, but they’re still on board. Apparently someone checked the passports and wrote down the names when they boarded. Meredith Cooper’s name wasn’t on the list, but they still think it’s her.”

  Dave looked at Mia. “I hate to leave you here, but—”

  “If you don’t take me with you, I’ll drive there myself.”

  “Damn it, Mia. This is not—”

  “My investigation,” she finished for him. “I know that, Dave, but I’m involved, and I’m going with you.”