“We were just on our way home from dinner, and I thought we would enjoy the scenery,” said Quinn.
“Well, I’m sorry, sir. I’m just glad I didn’t catch you doing anything. That would have been awkward at work tomorrow.”
Quinn pulled Callie against his side. He was about to say something when he heard a woman’s scream pierce the silence of the night.
“Shit,” said Jimmy Lee going for his gun. “I have to go see what that was.”
“I’ll go with you!” He took Callie’s hand. “I wish I had my gun.”
Callie reached into the car and pulled out her purse. Inside, she dug out the Ruger. The deputy stared at her with an open mouth.
“Baby, this is just another reason why I love you,” Quinn said, taking it from her. “Don’t worry, Jimmy Lee. She has a permit to carry.”
If his boss said so.
Who was he to question it?
All three headed across the field to where the scream had originated. Once there, they found a girl wrapped in the arms of a guy the size of a house. If possible, he made Quinn look small, and that was no easy task.
“What’s going on here?” asked the sheriff.
“Oh God! I think that I just found a dead body,” said the woman, pointing to the trees.
“Stay here. Do you have a cellphone?”
The giant man nodded.
“Call nine-one-one and tell them the sheriff needs back up at Earl’s Landing,” he said, still holding Callie’s hand, and the Ruger.
“Yes, sir,” said the house of a man.
Callie moved with Quinn through the field, and she couldn’t help but notice that he kept her protectively behind his body the entire time. When they got to the tree, Quinn cursed.
“What?” she asked, trying to get a good look, but in the dark, it wasn’t easy.
“Well, call it a hunch, but I don’t think that the mayor will be fighting me so much on the DNA warrants,” he said, as Jimmy Lee pointed his flashlight at the victim.
Callie gasped. “Oh shit! That’s Martha Jackson, the mayor’s wife.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Chapter Twelve
Late
Sunday Night
I n life, she had prestige, but all that remained was ruin. Martha had the tell-tale signs, much like the other victims, that she had suffered until her last moment. There was the duct tape covering her mouth, angry raw ligature marks, and finally the vicious carving done in anger.
The serial killer had struck yet again.
So much for upping the patrols. They did little to hinder the next murder.
“Well, shit, I’ll call your brother and Luke,” said Quinn, pulling out his phone as he tucked the Ruger into the back of his pants.
“I’ll go try to calm the couple who found her.”
“Take Jimmy Lee with you. I don’t want you alone in this field. For all we know, the killer likes to watch us discover his victims.”
Callie wouldn’t argue with him, not after the week that she was having. Instead, she headed back to the woman with the deputy at her heels.
Quinn glanced at his watch. It was only eleven at night, so the two men should still be up.
“Hello?” came the sleepy voice.
“It’s Quinn.”
“What’s wrong? What happened to Callie?” snapped Nate, coming awake in a rush of fear.
Quinn stared down at the mayor’s wife. “Nothing, but we have another murder. It’s out at Earl’s Landing. I need the two of you to help me contain this mess. I’m going to have to notify next of kin.”
“Give us thirty minutes to get there. Who’s the victim?” asked Nate.
“You won’t believe it.” Quinn shared all the details.
“No shit! This is getting even uglier.”
“Yeah, I know. When you head here, can you bring Callie some clothes? I don’t really want her traipsing around in that dress and sex kitten heels.”
“Yeah, just keep an eye on her,” Nate stated.
He was watching her now, and she was definitely being babysat. In fact, Jimmy Lee was checking out her posterior as she stood there in her dress.
Yeah, he was going to slap some sense into the deputy.
“See you in thirty,” he said, as he heard the sirens in the distance, tearing toward the murder scene.
This wasn’t exactly how he planned to end his date. He couldn’t wait until they found this killer, so they could all move on with their lives.
Callie sat beside the crying woman as she held her hand. At one point, she believed the girl was going to hyperventilate, as she jumped at every sound. “It’ll be okay, Kate. Now, just tell me how you found her.”
“I had to pee, and Johnny told me that he wasn’t bringing me back to my house, and then here again. I figured I’d go in the woods,” she whispered. “Then, I looked at the one tree and thought someone had passed out, but when I got closer she was... was really dead.”
Callie listened to the sirens getting closer, and she glanced over at Jimmy Lee. “Can you take her statement, so she can go home?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, pulling her up from the ground. After all, he was a gentleman.
Callie started back across the field, only to find Quinn crouched near the body, beside Tommy Brooks. Callie touched Quinn’s arm, and immediately he handed her gloves. “Anything unusual?”
“No, it looks about the same. She was struck on the head, gagged, and there’s apparent sexual assault.”
Callie moved to the woman’s skull and examined the wound. “She was hit from the front.”
How anyone could tell that with all the blood was beyond him. Martha was a mess.
“She’s right,” said the coroner.
“She knew her attacker,” added Callie. “Look at her arms. There are no defensive wounds. If it was a stranger coming at her, she would have instinctually defended herself. Martha didn't, so it’s likely that she knew this person.”
As if he just noticed, Tommy took a minute to stare at their attire. Obviously, they’d been on a date. He got a little glimmer in his eye, as he planned to torment his old pal. “I feel underdressed,” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows at Callie.
When his friend glared at him, he only laughed more. Somehow, he found the fortitude to stop laughing and continue, “Did you notice anything else, Doctor Carter?”
Callie pointed to the woman’s ribcage. “Look at those marks.”
Quinn needed to know. “What could they be from?”
“Callie?” the coroner offered, allowing her the first shot at it. He’d already noted them on his clipboard.
“They almost look like scratches. Martha Jackson wasn’t a tiny woman, and I’m betting whoever carried her wasn’t expecting that she would be that heavy. Possibly she slipped during transport to this spot.”
“I agree,” said Tommy.
Callie heard commotion, as her brother and Luke approached.
Nate stared at the woman on the ground. “Well that’s five sins down. All that’s left is sloth and lust. This killer is moving fast.”
“We need to put these pieces together,” said Quinn. “Can you two take care of the scene? I’m going to the mayor’s before word travels back to him. It looks like it’ll be a long night for everyone.”
“We need to stop back at the house so I can change. I’m definitely going with you,” said Callie.
“I brought you clothes,” interjected Nate. “They’re in the SUV. I figured we were going to be pulling an all-nighter.”
“I can’t wait to get out of these shoes,” Callie admitted. “They’re torturous.”
“Then why the hell would you wear them?” questioned her brother.
“Oh, Nate, do you really need me to tell you, or do you want to figure it out on your own?” she replied, as she pointed at a smug looking Quinn.
“Jesus, Callie!” he hissed, so only the four of them could hear the conversation. “What is it with you? You’re like a walking h
ormone when he’s around.” He said, looking disgustedly at Quinn.
The sheriff didn't have to say a word.
Callie allowed her gaze to slide up and down Quinn’s well-built body. “I can’t help it. Call it a flaw in my DNA,” she answered honestly.
Quinn snickered, leading her to the SUV. Once there, Callie retrieved the clothes her brother had brought.
“I’ll get dressed as you drive,” she offered, heading to the Mustang.
“Okay, let’s go. We’ll hit the mayor’s, and then stop at the donut shop for coffee. We’re going to need it.”
“Sounds good to me, darlin’.” Callie crawled into the backseat and opened her backpack, expecting to find something prudish. Callie was pleased to see casual wear. It would feel nice to be out of the dress and into simple jeans and tank top.
He was trying to be a gentleman, but it was so damn hard. In his backseat, there was a sexy woman stripping. He said a silent prayer, hoping he didn't crash and kill them.
It would be one hell of an accident scene.
As she reached around and unzipped the back of her dress, his breath quickened. He began thinking about all the things that would keep him calm.
“I’m completely naked now, so don’t get pulled over,” she teased, lounging across the backseat to give him one hell of a view.
“Holy shit! This is going to be burned into my mind forever,” he replied hoarsely. “I’m getting that seat bronzed.”
“Too bad our date night is over because I know of a few other fun things you can do in the back of a Mustang.”
Quinn thanked the powers that be for his good fortune. Callista was going to be his for as long as they lived. He focused on the road, trying to ignore the fact that she was slipping into her jeans, sans the panties.
Once the tank top and jeans were on, Callie crawled into the front seat so she could slip into her boots. When Quinn offered her a free hand, she was happy to accept it. When their fingers touched, a little shock of heat shot through her.
Quinton Gaines was failing miserably at keeping his mind out of the gutter.
“Are you okay, darlin’?”
“Yeah, sure. I’m trying to concentrate on the road,” he said, refusing to look at her.
“Where does the mayor live?”
“Right up here,” he replied, pulling off into a driveway. “I hate doing these notifies,” he muttered.
“Do you want me to do it?” she offered. “I’m used to them. Nate and Luke always let me handle them, since they felt that I was better at softening the blow.”
There was no way in hell he was letting his woman take the anger that he knew was coming. “No, I’ve got it, baby.”
Getting out of the car, they noticed that all the lights were off in the house, and Quinn couldn’t imagine why the mayor didn't know that his wife wasn’t home.
Even at that age, Quinn was pretty sure he would have been prowling around until Callie came home at night.
At the door, they rang the bell. It didn’t take long to hear movement. When the door was yanked open, there stood a very angry mayor.
“What the hell do you want, Sheriff? It’s after midnight,” he practically growled.
“Sir, I need to talk to you,” Quinn began.
“Who the hell is she?” he asked, looking up and down Callie’s body. “Your date?”
Quinn felt his temper flaring. This was exactly why he wouldn’t let Callie do the notify. “Doctor Carter is assisting me on the serial killings. We need to talk with you, sir,” he repeated again.
“You woke me up, so this better be damn important! Make this fast,” he barked, not moving out of the doorway. “If this is total bullshit, you’re going to be looking for a new job, and it won’t be in this town.”
Quinn didn't enjoy how the mayor threatened his livelihood every time he was angry. That was one more thing that he missed about being in Atlanta. When his boss threatened, it was only for major offenses.
“Mayor Jackson, I don’t think you want to have this discussion on the porch. It’s in regard to your wife,” said Callie, trying to be nice, despite the anger brewing. She hated how the man she loved was being berated.
No, that was putting it mildly. The man’s attitude was pissing her off.
The mayor glared at Quinn, “What? Do you need a DNA sample for this half-assed case you’re running? Maybe my wife is the killer,” he said sarcastically.
“Oh, I doubt that,” Callie replied.
Quinn glanced over at her in surprise. The tone in her voice caught him off guard.
Callie had just about enough, and she crossed her arms over her chest. Instead of letting Quinn handle it, she jumped right in, delivering the bad news.
“Mayor, we just left a new crime scene, and I regret to inform you that it was your wife’s body that we found at Earl’s Landing.”
The man’s face went bright red. “That isn't funny!”
Quinn was surprised that Callie had taken the heat.
“You lying son of a bitch! I’ll have your God damned job, and you’ll be out on your ass,” he hissed, stabbing his finger in Quinn’s chest.
Callie redirected the anger back at her. “We aren’t wrong, Mayor. You can get mad at the messengers, but we’re just doing our jobs. Please feel free to go back upstairs and check for yourself. We’ll wait for you right here.”
The man was seething and focused on Callie.
“I’ll go wake Martha up, and then you’ll have to apologize to me. I may not be able to make your life hell, Doctor, but I can ruin his. I will watch you pack up your desk, Sheriff,” he snarled, first pointing at Quinn, and then slamming the door in their faces.
They could hear his angry footsteps on the tile.
“Callie, I would have taken the heat. You didn't have to do this,” he said, touching her cheek with his rough fingertips.
“I wasn’t going to stand here and let him treat you like his whipping boy, Quinn. He can’t hurt, fire, or make my life miserable.”
He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Thank you,” he murmured. It was sweet how she defended him. Never in his life had a woman, he’d been dating, done that for him.
Then, it occurred to him.
“Why didn't he know his wife wasn’t home? Wouldn’t he have woken up and noticed that she wasn’t lying next to him?” asked Quinn.
“Maybe they don’t sleep together anymore. I know that Martha wasn’t the nicest woman in the town. In fact, calling her a shrew would be putting it nicely.”
“But still. Not sleeping with your wife?”
“It happens, Quinn,” said Callie, listening for the mayor’s footsteps.
Quinn stared at her, aghast. There was no way in hell that he wouldn’t be sleeping beside her every night. He couldn’t stay away from her as it was now, if they were married…
Wow, marriage.
The power behind the word nearly took him to his knees. Next, he would be thinking about kids. Little curly haired children who were running in their yard with...
“Holy shit,” he muttered.
“Pardon?” she asked, resting her hand on his arm in concern.
Oh, yeah, he could see it all. There was nothing more amazing than the possibility of Callista Carter becoming his wife, and mother of their children. Quinn snapped back to reality. “I was just thinking about how messy this whole thing is.”
When Callie didn't push, he let out a breath.
Touching his arm, they both listened. They could hear footsteps moving back toward the door. The angry staccato was gone, and in their place was a more subdued sound.
When the mayor reappeared, he stepped back to let them inside. “She’s not here,” he whispered, his face pale with fear. “Oh God! There has to be some mistake!”
Callie led him to the nearest couch. Now was the time to offer sympathy and help the man through his grief. “Mayor, have a seat. We need to talk about where your wife was today.”
The fight had seeped out of him
.
“She was at church this morning, and then she had the women’s auxiliary this evening. She left here about six. I didn’t think to listen for her to come home. I just assumed that everything would be okay.”
“Sir, I need to ask this. You were in bed, so why didn't you know that Martha wasn’t here?”
The mayor looked embarrassed, but finally the truth came out. “We have separate rooms and have for some time.”
“I see,” said Quinn, still unable to understand that, but then again, Martha Jackson had quite the tongue on her.
“All that shit about the DNA today, Sheriff, do you really think that the reverend is responsible?”
“We aren’t sure, but we’re trying to put it together.”
“Oh God. My wife is dead.”
Then, the dam broke and the man began to sob.
“It’s okay, sir. We’ll all get through this.”
One way or another.
* * *
Early Monday Morning
It was almost two in the morning when they finally calmed the mayor down. They took his alibi and called the man’s daughter to deliver the bad news. Once she arrived, they snuck out, giving the family time to grieve together.
“I feel bad for him,” said Callie. “It has to be hard to lose your wife after being married for that long, even if she was vicious.”
“Yeah, it has to be,” he replied. His brain was trying to picture his life without her at his side. This whole night made him realize one thing. It wasn’t going to work with them living together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Quinton Gaines needed more.
The woman beside him was the key to his happiness, and he needed to seal the deal.
“I really need that coffee. If we don’t, I’m going to drop,” Callie admitted.
He wasn’t far behind.
Pulling into the coffee shop, they ran inside. Callie stood beside him at the counter, as they were met by a little blonde woman. Whoever she was, it was obvious who had her attention. It both irritated and amused her at the same time.
“Hey, Sheriff! You never called me after our date,” said the blonde. “Did you lose my number?” she purred.
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