Sinner Repent

by Morgan Kelley

  It earned him a lifted eyebrow.

  “Yeah, you have fun with that.”

  Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “For the record, they have nothing on the woman I’m currently with. She’s the sexiest babe in the universe.”

  Her heart melted. “She thinks that you’re pretty spectacular yourself, big guy,” she drawled.

  “Miss me a little bit, okay?”

  Going up on her toes, she lightly brushed her lips against his. “I absolutely will,” she replied, running her hands over his chest. When Callie pushed away from him, she put extra sway in her walk, knowing that he was watching her. At the door, she blew him a kiss, and loved the look on his face.

  Quinn watched in admiration as she left Ollie’s. When he turned around, it was plain to see that the waitress didn't look all that happy.

  It made him laugh.

  Score one for Callie. Apparently, she had just marked her territory.

  Oddly, he didn't mind at all.

  * * *

  Back at the station, Callie sat at the table breaking down what they had. Even though it seemed like a lot of information, it really amounted to very little. Working on the whiteboard, she began pinning up each one of the victims’ photographs. Under Sissy Parker’s, Callie wrote the word ‘pride’. Next, she moved to the death photo of Aimee Jo and added ‘envy’. Finally, she taped up the last woman’s driver’s license to the board, and wrote ‘gluttony’ there.

  “We had no idea what the words linked to, until we got the last word gluttony, and then it clicked for me,” Callie said, sitting down in her seat.

  “I don’t get their significance,” stated Luke, still lost.

  “It’s the Seven Deadly Sins,” said Nate, opening his own tablet to pull up the FBI notes.

  “I know you’re Christian,” Callie said, pointing at the man.

  “I didn't pay attention in church. I was scoping out the babes,” he retorted.

  Callie snorted. “I sincerely hope that the woman you fall in love with, kicks your ass daily.”

  “Hey!”

  Nate jumped back in, trying to keep them from a mêlée. “We have the file from Phoenix, and there were seven unsolved murders, but none of the bodies had carvings or notes left near them.”

  Luke made a suggestion, “Could Phoenix have been a trial run, or is this possibly a copycat?”

  Callie shrugged. “I’m not sure, but there is too much of a coincidence for me. I don’t even know where to start profiling this one, other than what I gave Quinn.”

  “Yeah the victims are all over the place. We have a young girl with a rough home life, a rich girl with a pampered life, and then the town’s party girl.”

  Nate leaned back in his chair. “What about the last four sins?”

  She stared over at the pictures, transfixed. “Anger, greed, sloth, and lust,” said Callie. “Then, we have the difference in deaths,” Callie proceeded to break down each woman and her demise. When she finally got to Sammie Jean, there was definitely a distinctive difference. The newest death was even more brutal, and filled with rage.

  “Do you know who she was with yet?”

  “No. Quinn is out in the field trying to track down the sperm donor,” she said, tapping her pen as she glanced at the clock. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Let’s order in.”

  “Chinese?” called Nate quickly.

  “No way! I think we should do pizza,” interjected Luke looking pleadingly at Callie.

  Callie grinned, “Who’s paying?”

  Nate pointed at his partner, and Luke pointed right back at him. Callie recalled this routine. “Whoever pays picks the food. You both know that.” Still, they remained pointing at each other. “Okay, I get the hint. I’ll pay because I want spicy Thai food.”

  “Deal,” they said at the same time.

  Callie simply shook her head. There was no doubt in her mind that both men had set her up.

  * * *

  Quinn found them sitting around the conference room table having Thai for lunch. Once more he was feeling the inkling of jealousy. He understood that Nate was family, but Callie’s interaction with Luke left him feeling like the outsider looking in. He stood there silently observing her for a few minutes, taking everything in. She seemed relaxed and at peace, and that helped alleviate some of the aggression he was feeling.

  Sensing him nearby, Callie glanced over. The warmth began moving through her body as the butterflies started back up. When her eyes met his, time seemed to stop. Finally, she was able to speak. “Quinton, are you hungry?”

  “Yeah, I am. What are you eating?” he asked, leaning down to kiss her on the top of the head.

  “I got us a double order of spicy Pad Thai. I thought that we could share,” she said, handing him the takeout container and her chopsticks.

  She didn't have to tell him twice. Quickly, he knocked Luke’s feet off the chair beside her and took a seat. His heart lifted as she offered to share her lunch with him.

  It was such a comfortable and wifely thing to do.

  He almost choked on the Pad Thai when that word popped into his head. Quinn swore to himself, not knowing where the hell that thought had come from.

  On second thought, yes he did. This was all her fault. She had to be the woman of his dreams, smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

  When he recovered, Quinn pulled out his phone to share what he had learned. “The bad news is that we have nothing at all.”

  “No one saw the victim, or who she left with?” asked Nate, watching Quinn feed Callie some Thai food. Yeah, there was something more between them than just sex. He could see it on his sister’s face. For the sheriff’s sake, he hoped it was reciprocal.

  “Nope. They don’t even remember her leaving the bar. The waitresses stated that she was drinking, and as usual, the men were plying her with liquor. The only employee to see her leave believes that she walked out by herself, but she isn’t one hundred percent certain of that.”

  “What about a list of patrons?” asked Luke.

  “Yeah, I left that to the deputies, so I could get back here and go over the autopsy report.”

  Callie held it open for Quinn, so that he could continue to eat his lunch while they worked.

  “Well, holy shit, how many times was she assaulted?”

  Callie was appalled, too, when she first read it. “She was shredded inside. I’m having a hard time believing that it was done by the male anatomy. The coroner said it was more like cuts instead of tears that would occur from sexual assault.”

  “So, where does that leave us?” Quinn asked.

  They all knew the answer to that one.

  “Unfortunately, in the same exact place. We’re still searching for the sperm donor,” Callie admitted.

  * * *

  The afternoon flew by. Before they realized the time, it was after six. Since the entire team had barely slept, the day seemed twice as long, and everyone was rubbing their eyes. Callie stretched before tossing Nate her house keys. “Don’t trash my house. I’m going back to Quinn’s.”

  Nate didn’t look thrilled at the idea, and the look he sent the sheriff proved it.

  “That’s going to be a problem. Who’s going to cook for us?” asked Luke grinning, until she slapped him in the arm.

  “Don’t look at me. I’m not either of your mommas,” was her reply.

  “Come on, beautiful. We came all the way down here, and you’re not going to make us your famous pizza?” pleaded Luke.

  Quinn’s eyes lit up at the mention of her knowing how to make one of his favorite foods. “You can make pizza? Is that actually possible?”

  Callie rolled her eyes at the look on his face. “Yeah, I can, since it’s not that difficult.”

  “Will you make it for me tonight?” begged Quinn, practically willing to offer her his soul for more home cooked food. It had to mean something when a woman enjoyed cooking for you, didn't it?

  Callie didn’t mind
at all. If he wanted it that bad, she had enough energy to muster it. “Only, if we go shopping first. You have nothing that I can use on a pizza,” she said.

  “My pleasure,” he answered. It felt good having her smiling at him.

  Both men stared at them. “Really? You’re going to make him your pizza, but not the two men who have been by your side for years?”

  Suddenly, Quinn was feeling more magnanimous. “You’re welcome to join us.”

  “Really?” asked Nate.

  “You don’t mind?” Luke asked suspiciously.

  Honestly, he didn't. They would be in his domain, and he could kick their asses out if they crossed a line. “No, but you have to bring the beer.”

  Callie was incredibly proud of him. “Well, then let’s get moving men. I’m suddenly in the mood for beer and pizza. Let’s face it. The food isn't going to make itself.”

  “It’s really not?” Luke asked sarcastically.

  It earned him a punch to his gut.

  And a whole lot of laughter.

  Quinn sent the men to her house to drop off their things. Even when they offered to take her shopping, he wasn’t having it. What he wanted now was to spend some time alone with her, before he was forced to share her with the Feds. When they arrived at the grocery store in the center of town, Quinn helped Callie down from his truck.

  “So, what do we need?” he inquired, leading her by the hand. When Callie didn't try and pull away in public, it offered him a great deal of hope.

  Yeah, she was definitely his girlfriend.

  “Veggies and other things,” she said absently, as they moved through the produce section. “What do you want on your pizza?” she asked.

  “I’m a guy. I want meat and mushrooms on mine.”

  She laughed. “Your culinary wish is my command.” Callie placed a few different colored peppers in their basket, and then moved onto the mushrooms and fixings for a salad.

  “Lettuce?” he asked, staring at it warily. “I’m not a bunny rabbit.”

  Callie knew how to deal with men. After all, she had spent many days with Luke and Nate. Instead of arguing, she went up onto her toes to whisper in his ear. “What’s that saying about rabbits and sex?”

  “I love salad!” he practically shouted.

  The man entertained her. “You’re easy, Quinn.”

  He wasn’t about to disagree with her. Part of him loved watching as she moved efficiently through the store, selecting foods for the toppings and also for other meals.

  “Can I ask you something?” he finally asked, when he couldn’t keep it in any longer.

  “Sure. What’s on your mind?”

  “Why are you staying with me? You could be back at your house with your brother and Luke.”

  He must have caught her off guard because she dropped a block of mozzarella.

  “I need an answer,” he said, picking up the cheese that slipped from her hand.

  Finally, the words formed. “I was under the impression, by the testosterone pissing match you demonstrated in Ollie’s parking lot, that you wanted me to stay with you. Was I mistaken?”

  “I do want you to stay with me, but I’m wondering why you agreed to it,” he said, suddenly getting nervous. “You don’t need me to play watch dog anymore.”

  Callie took the mozzarella from him, and when her fingers grazed his, there were sparks. “I don’t do one-night stands, Quinn,” she said, as vaguely as possible.

  “And that means?”

  Callie stopped the cart in the middle of the dairy isle and stared up into his sexy green eyes. “You requested a second chance, and I’m giving you it. I thought that you wanted a relationship with me. That was the word you used to get me to tell you about my scar, wasn’t it? Then, you followed it up with ‘girlfriend’. Isn't this what couples do?”

  “I do and it was, but I’m a little unclear on what it is that you want,” he said curiously. “We both know how I feel. Is this one sided, Callista?”

  It most definitely wasn’t.

  “I want to get to know you better. If I didn't feel the same, you couldn’t get me to bend, Quinn. I’m pretty stubborn. I assumed we were heading down the relationship trail. Am I wrong?”

  “I’m not heading there,” he replied.

  She stared at him. “You’re not?”

  “I’m already there. Contrary to what you may have heard about me, Callie, I don’t sleep around. Of all the women I’ve dated in this town, you’re the only one I brought home and had sex with. Sure, I had dinner and movie dates, but only you made it past that.”

  His words surprised her.

  “So, when a woman sleeps in my bed, she’s my girlfriend, partner, significant other or any other term you can come up with. Once you stayed overnight, we moved from dating to relationship. I don’t travel this ‘trail’ with just anyone,” he clarified.

  Callie got the chills.

  “Are you okay with that?” he asked.

  “I’m very okay with that,” she replied.

  “You’re not a one-night stand or a bed hop to me, Callista. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

  She melted a little at the use of her full name. In her head, she pictured climbing all over him, so it was time to change the topic. “Now, can we get this shopping done?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder possessively, as he led her through the store. He chose to ignore the curious looks that the two of them were receiving. In fact, he was enjoying the idea of everyone thinking Callie was his. It was a nice feeling, and it made his outlook even brighter.

  As they stood in the checkout line, Callie elbowed him roughly to get his attention. There was an interesting conversation going on right in front of them.

  Beulah stood there ringing up another woman’s order, and the gossip was flying.

  Callie had almost missed the conversation, since she was enjoying her time leaning against Quinn. When she heard Aimee Jo’s name, it snapped back to attention.

  “She was dating someone older,” said Beulah to the customer, matter-of-factly. “She told me herself that her momma and daddy would blow a gasket if they found out that she was seeing him on the sly.”

  “Do you think that the guy hurt her?”

  “I don’t know, but she told me that she liked him in his uniform.”

  The woman looked confused, “Beulah, we don’t have anyone in town who wears uniforms except for the sheriff and the deputies.” Then, the woman must have finally got the picture. “Oh my God! Do you think that it’s the law killing these women?”

  “I swear it’s a conspiracy,” said Beulah. “Who else better to get away with it than the police? One of those guys was screwing around with a child. For all we know, it could be the sheriff.”

  Callie didn't need to look up at Quinn. His entire body tightened against hers. The shit was about to hit the fan.

  He cleared his throat.

  When Beulah glanced up, she saw the sheriff in line. Immediately, she shushed the woman before hustling her off.

  The other customer glared over at them disapprovingly, before she left the lane with her purchases.

  “Hello, Sheriff Gaines. I see you’re keeping company with the doctor,” she said, noticing the way Quinn had his arm around Callie. “I wasn’t aware that you were seeing anyone new.”

  “Yes, Beulah, I am. Now, if you don’t mind ringing us up, we need to get home and make dinner. We’ve had a long day.” Fortunately, she understood the implied meaning and began moving faster.

  “All the single ladies will be sad to hear you’re not in the dating pool anymore. You’re quite the catch,” she added.

  Callie’s blood pressure began to rise. Beulah was in her forties and was still an attractive woman, except for her propensity to gossip. She was the town crier, and liked to pass all the gossip along. She could already tell who the next victim was going to be.

  Yeah, over her dead body.

  It wasn’t like Beula
h led a perfect life, by any means. The woman was married to Ed, the owner of the local body shop. He was a womanizer and a letch. It made her curious how the woman had ended up with him.

  Callie refocused on the conversation as Beulah was questioning the competency of the sheriff and deputies right to Quinn’s face. From the look in his eye, she knew Quinn was seconds away from losing it. Since he was trying to be professional, he allowed the woman her opinion, but it irritated the hell out of her. Suddenly, Callie had the overwhelming need to do something to defend her man.

  “So, Beulah, how’s Ed doing? Is he keeping himself busy over at the garage? Summer’s here and isn’t this his busy season? I mean, with all the young women running around in tiny shorts and all?” It was laden with barbs, and it landed an effective hit. Everyone in town knew that was where Ed did his after- work fraternizing.

  Quinn had to look away, or he was going to laugh. His little lady just managed to do what no one else could. She shut up the town gossip with little effort.

  “I wouldn’t know about any of that. I’m a good Christian soul,” she answered. It was obvious that she was greatly insulted, since she was glaring at Callie with nothing but pure ice in her eyes.

  “Yeah, gossiping is real Christian of you,” Callie added.

  The woman gasped as if slapped.

  “Back off of Sheriff Gaines, or I’ll start my own gossiping,” she stated. “Trust me when I say you won’t like it.”

  The woman’s mouth pinched into a tight line, and she rattled off the total.

  Quinn pulled out his wallet, paid the bill, and scooped up the bag. When they were outside at his truck, he opened her door, placed the bag on the floor, and then pulled her into his arms.

  As their lips met, Quinn took that moment to show Callista what lived inside him, for her. Never in his life, had any woman stood up for his honor like that. It was really sexy.

  Callie could feel the heat pooling low in her stomach as he slowly pulled away from the kiss. “Wow, what was that for?”

  Quinn smiled, helping her up into the truck. “That was for coming to my rescue, as you risked the wrath of Beulah.”