Reed’s glance shot up from his notebook. He sensed that this was the break he and Marina had been looking for. “What was the name of his fraternity?”
Sucking her bottom lip, Lissa tilted her head. “Alpha Kappa Epsilon? I think that was it.”
Reed’s pen sped up. “Did you ever meet any of Elliot’s frat brothers?”
Pulling her knees up to her chest, Lissa put her back on the armrest. “No. He didn’t want to share me with them. Isn’t that a laugh?”
Before Reed could answer they heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. Lissa seemed to grow smaller as she lowered her legs to the floor to sit primly on the other end of the couch.
The atmosphere in the room changed drastically. The man who opened the door was built like a wrestler with a short, powerful body and pugnacious face topped with glossy black curls. “Lissa,” he said, taking in her scantily clad form, “why you sitting around guests in your underwear? What are trying to do, huh? Give the man a heart attack?”
“Relax, Tony,” she snapped. “They’re cops. They came to ask questions about Elliot.”
Tony slammed the door shut with an air of barely controlled anger. His wary gazed flicked over Reed and Marina, lingering longer over Marina’s breasts and finally her face. “You two got a warrant?”
“No.” Marina’s tone implied that it wasn’t a problem.
Tony gave off powerful waves of suppressed violence as he flicked a thumb at the door. “No warrant, then get out.”
Sizing the other man up, Reed spoke. “Tony, chill. We need to see Lissa’s airline ticket stubs and proof that she was in Detroit when Elliot Washington was killed or we’ll be taking her downtown with us.” He didn’t know how much control Tony had over himself, but he wasn’t taking any chances. His hand was close to the gun he wore strapped at his waist, just beneath his suit jacket.
Lissa scrambled to her feet. “I’ll get those stubs for you,” she said, hurrying into the back.
Tony approached Reed, his eyes sparking with aggravation. “I don’t know why you come here bothering Lissa about that bum. She was over him a long time ago.”
Marina stood. “How long have you been with Lissa?”
Tony rotated his shoulders. “About a month or so, why?”
“We need to know where you were the night before last, the night someone killed Elliot Washington. Maybe you decided to take him out of the picture.”
“No. I didn’t have to kill the bum. I already told you. She was over him,” Tony replied angrily, narrowing his eyes.
Marina didn’t argue. She simply waited for the answer to her question with an unwavering expression.
“I was playing poker with the boys from about eight till about two-thirty in the morning. I drank until I passed out.”
“You got someone who can verify that?” Reed asked.
“Yeah, Vince Vanetti.” Tony rattled off a phone number.
Bent on verifying the alibi, Reed whipped out his cell phone and called the number. Identifying himself as a police officer, he asked about Tony and the card game, deliberately giving the wrong day. Vince, the man on the other end hesitated for moment, and corrected him. Tony had been at his house playing cards, passed out and ended up spending the night. Vince promised to come down to the station to sign a statement.
Reed switched off the phone. Lissa had thrown on a robe and was waiting while Marina copied the numbers and information off her airline ticket stubs. Afterward, Lissa gave Marina a slip of paper with her mother’s name and address printed on it.
“You got everything you need from us?” Tony asked, looking as if he’d sat on the sharp edge of a tack.
Reed closed his notebook. “Yeah, but we’ll be back if this stuff doesn’t check out.”
“It will,” Tony stormed. “Now get the hell out of our house.”
Reed stopped in the act of gathering his things to confront Tony. “Hey, you need to watch your language. We’re just doing our jobs and we’ve treated you with respect. We expect the same back. If it’s too hard for you to be civil enough for us to do our jobs here, we can all go down to the station. Understand?”
Tony turned red and his dark brows pulled together like thunderclouds, but his head dipped slightly in acknowledgment.
Reed and Marina made a dignified exit.
“Do you think Lissa did it?” Reed asked as they got into the car.
Marina cinched her seat belt. “No, but before Tony showed up, I was sure she was going to try to get in your underwear. I’m still checking out her alibi. She could have taken a quick flight back here, killed Elliot and gone back to Detroit. If her mother is elderly or sick, how would she know?”
Reed thought back to Lissa’s obvious anger with Elliot. Had it been enough for her to kill? And could she have killed Colton Edwards? He’d seen no signs of recognition in her facial expression. They were looking for a serial killer, but they had to make sure that none of the killer’s supposed victims had died by another hand.
“For a moment there, I thought you were going to pull a gun on Tony,” Marina said as they pulled away from the curb.
Reed kept his eyes on the road as he answered. “For a moment there, I thought I was going to have to.”
Marina stretched and yawned in the seat next to him. “It got pretty tense.”
“And you loved it,” he shot back, enjoying the banter between them and her presence beside him. “If I’d had to draw my gun, you’d have been right there with me.” He glanced away from the road to catch a glimpse of her soft berry-coated lips turning upward in response. Heat went through him like lightning. He’d always been a sucker for that smile. He jerked his gaze back to the road.
He guessed that Marina hadn’t noticed. Her voice was slow and thoughtful. “Let’s pick up the warrant, get something to eat, then head up to Merriwhether. Maybe we can find that frat house.”
Tapping the steering wheel, he said, “We need to check university and fraternity records for each of the victims. I’d bet money on the frat being the link between them.”
“They’re already linked by the fact that they all went to Merriwhether and are pretty close to the same age,” she reminded him. She pulled her wallet from the pocket of her jacket. “How much do you want to bet?”
Reed laughed out loud. “I change my mind. I’ll bet, but let’s not use money. The loser, and that will be you, has to do something for the winner.”
“What do you want, Reed?” she asked, trademark toughness creeping into her tone. “I wouldn’t jump into bed with you if you won the bet.”
Inside Reed froze. She had to go there, didn’t she? He kept his physical reaction to a minimum. “What makes you think that’s what I’d want?” he quipped. He heard her barely audible gasp. It salved the part of him that was still hurting over the way she’d just dropped him for another man.
“Then what do you want?” she asked, trying to read him.
“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully, “but if you don’t want to do it, I’ll settle for this statement, ‘Reed you’re simply the best, even better than me and I simply don’t have the guts to do what you want.’”
Those were fighting words. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her lips tighten. Marina didn’t like conceding defeat to anyone.
“Too much for you?” he asked, needling her just a little.
“No. It’s a bet,” she insisted. “I’ve just got to think of something embarrassing that I’d like you to do when you lose. And you will lose.”
Reed started laughing all over again.
Turning her head, Marina pretended to look out the window.
For lunch, they stopped at a little Greek restaurant close to the Merriwhether University campus to eat. The Greek music playing in the background and the easy atmosphere took Reed back to earlier times when they’d hung out in places like this.
Marina sat next to him in the booth, looking comfortable. Reed didn’t buy into the illusion because he felt the weight of her g
aze on him whenever she thought he wasn’t looking. He’d managed to get her attention this time. Maybe she’d finally realized that she’d made a big mistake. He didn’t ever plan to pursue her again, but pride drove him to prove that she’d welcome him if he tried.
“I’ve got it,” Marina said, flashing him a devilish smile. “How about you doing my laundry for a week if you lose the bet?”
Reed’s mind conjured up several filmy, silky, lacy pieces of sexy lingerie that could reasonably be included in Marina’s laundry. He swallowed hard.
“Gotcha!” Marina burst into laughter.
“Actually, I’d consider you doing my laundry for a week if you lose,” he said, taking some of the sting out of her laughter.
Shaking her head, she finished the last of her salad. “Let’s get going,” she said, gathering her things. “We’ve got a serial killer who’s probably out there getting ready for the next victim.”
CHAPTER 5
Marina fell silent when they entered the Merriwhether campus and drove past the Paley and Clifford dormitories, the Language, Arts and Sciences building and the Business School. Memories of her graduation, the glory days as a student, her friends, hopes, loves and aspirations echoed back. Coming back always had that effect on her because she had a love for this place and who and what she was then that would forever be a part of her.
“Takes you back a little, huh?”
Acknowledging Reed’s question with a nod, she glanced at him, seeing the tall, gangly youth in T-shirt and jeans that he’d been when she’d met him at registration on her first day at Merriwhether. Back then, his beautiful eyes had been hidden behind thick, Clark-Kent-type glasses and his face had been thin and boyish-looking. She’d been frustrated with the registration process and her inability to get the classes she’d wanted. Reed had shown her how to get on the list for the second section of the class or how to meet the degree requirements with other courses.
Reed parked the car outside the student services building. Inside, they stood with several baby-faced students in the records office line. Flashing their badges and the warrant, they waited while the clerk pulled records and transcripts for Elliot Washington, Colton Edwards and Aubrey Russell. Afterward, they sat on one of the couches in the bustling lobby, studying the records.
Colton Edwards and Elliot Washington had shared a couple of classes with Aubrey Russell. All had also been members of a campus fraternity, Alpha Kappa Epsilon.
Marina glanced at her watch. It was already two o’clock. “Things are looking better for my end of the bet,” she said, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice. “Why don’t we head over to the frat house before we leave the campus and see what we can get on Edwards, Russell and Washington?”
“We still have a possible class connection, but hold up a minute.” Reed walked over to the information desk, which was covered with stacks of pamphlets. Searching through the piles, he triumphantly held up a list of campus frat houses.
Together they studied the pamphlet until they found Alpha Kappa Epsilon. The address was only six blocks away. They hurried to the car.
The Alpha Kappa Epsilon house was a large white building in the Greco tradition, resembling an old southern mansion. After parking on the street, Reed and Marina mounted the steps and rang the bell.
A fresh-faced blond youth in jeans and a Merriwhether T-shirt answered the door and ushered them inside. Reed asked to speak to someone in charge.
“Are you from the university administration?” the kid asked, looking worried.
“No, I’m from the C.P.D.,” Reed said, showing his badge. “And Ms. Santos is from the FBI.”
On cue, Marina held up her badge.
The youth’s mouth fell open. “Are we in trouble?”
“Well now, that depends,” Reed answered, cocking his head to the side.
“I’ll get our chapter president.” The youth’s voice squeaked. He shot out of the room.
Minutes later he returned with a more mature-looking, dark-haired young man.
“Hello. I’m Austin Perry, president of this chapter of Alpha Kappa Epsilon. Ed says you’re from the C.P.D. and the FBI?”
“That’s correct.” Reed moved forward and offered his hand. “Reed Crawford, Chicago P.D.”
Marina followed suit. “Marina Santos, FBI.”
“What do you want with us?” Austin asked in a voice that shook.
Reed spoke calmly. “We’re trying to find a killer who’s already eliminated three former members of your fraternity. We need all the information you have on the victims and information on any other members who may fit the same profile.”
Austin’s eyes rounded. “Who were the victims?”
“Colton Edwards, Aubrey Russell and Elliot Washington.”
Myriad expressions crossed Austin’s face. One was recognition of the three names. Another was fear associated with that recognition. He suppressed those expressions quickly. “I’m not absolutely certain those three were members. I can’t give you any private information, either, without at least a release from our parent organization. And if they were indeed members of this fraternity, I may even need a signed release from their families.”
“All the men were definitely members of your fraternity,” Marina put in. “We’ve already gotten their records from the university.”
“We—we’ll still have to get back to you,” Austin insisted.
“Don’t take too long,” Reed warned him. “We wouldn’t want to see another one of your members die, would we?”
Austin backed up. “Are you threatening us?”
Marina took a step forward. “Here’s the threat. If we don’t get the information we’ve asked for within a day or two, we’ll come back with a search warrant. If any additional members of your fraternity die in the meantime, oh, well…”
“I’m going to call our parent organization and the lawyers right away,” Austin assured them. “You should hear from us in a couple days.”
“I wonder what they’re hiding,” Reed remarked as he and Marina left the frat house and made it down the stairs to the car. “It’s obvious that they already knew those guys were members.”
“Maybe they know why those three were targeted,” Marina suggested.
“No, maybe they’ve got a good idea who the serial killer is,” Reed said.
While Marina considered it, he started humming the theme song from the “Twilight Zone” television show.
Marina massaged her forehead with her fingers. This case had been on her mind for the last twenty-four hours straight and she was starting to lose her edge. “And what could a group of college students do that is so reprehensible that they’d rather be hunted by a serial killer than go to the police?”
Reed raised his brows and settled for a wide-eyed stare. “Hmmm I don’t know…murder?”
“Murder?” She straightened in her seat, thoughts of the ugly side of human nature increasing the pressure in her head. “Right now anything is possible. All we’ve got is that they shared some university classes and belonged to Alpha Kappa Epsilon fraternity.” She clenched and unclenched her fingers and let her breath out in a huff. “I’ve just got to take my mind off this case long enough to go to my nephew’s birthday party tonight.”
“Chico?” Reed asked, turning the car into the station lot and parking.
“Yes, it’s Chico’s birthday,” she replied with a smile, touched that he remembered. “I’ve got to run.” Gathering her things she got out of the car in a rush.
“Enjoy the birthday party,” Reed called out as she hurried to her car.
Austin Perry’s obvious recognition and fear upon hearing the names Colton Edwards, Aubrey Russell and Elliot Washington’s names had haunted Marina all the way back to the station. She decided she would start her research on the victims’ names as soon as she got the chance.
Marina went home to freshen up. She donned a hot-pink tank dress and matching sandals. Then she gathered her thick hair into an upsweep and
added gold loops to her ears. With a big, gaily wrapped package in tow, she headed to her cousin Carmen’s.
Her entire family filled Carmen’s little house in Humbolt Park with conversation, music, laughter and singing. It was little Chico’s third birthday and his brown button eyes sparkled with the joy of being the absolute center of attention.
Marina liked to pretend that little Chico was her baby. Some day she’d have a precious baby just like him. Lifting the little darling in her arms she swung him around and around until they both were dizzy. Placing him back on his little chair of honor she kissed him and presented him with her gift. The big goofy-looking bear was a huge hit. He covered her cheek with baby kisses, his little arms locking around her neck.
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