He stood and walked from the room.
Funny, by the look on the other man’s face, they didn't feel very welcome.
Tori stood. “We’re going to take the files back and get to work. Would you both like to join us?” she asked, knowing that the one detective would rather swallow glass.
“NO.”
Vivian looked over. “I’ll stop by later. I have a few things to do here. Is that okay with you?”
Julian took the files. “Here’s our number,” he said, sliding the business card across the table.
Picking it up, she placed it in her blazer jacket. “Have a good day, Mr. and Mrs. Littlemoon. I’ll be in contact soon.”
When they were gone, Lester snarled at her, “How the hell can you work with them? They’re hacks!”
Vivian didn't bat an eyelash. “You heard our boss, we don’t have a choice, so just suck it up and deal with it,” she snapped back. If he thought he was going to talk to her like that, Tom Lester was mistaken. They were equals.
Now, she understood why his wife left him. He was cranky, difficult, and pigheaded.
She stood. “I’m going back to my desk.”
He watched her leave and shook his head. “Turncoat,” he muttered miserably.
The truth would come out. They’d eventually see what he saw, and then they would have wished they listened to him.
Mark his words.
Something fishy was going on with the Littlemoons.
He just knew it!
* * *
Saturday Mid-Morning
The hospital was pretty slow. It must have been a very low accident week. When he walked into the ER, quite a few nurses and doctors were sitting behind the desk.
When he asked to see his friend Lenny, they paged him. He waved at his co-workers and pointed outside to signal a cigarette break.
Once out there, the man offered him one and Justin shook his head. “Those things are going to kill you, Lenny.”
He shrugged. “A warzone didn't take me out and neither will the diseases that I come across here, so maybe I’m invincible.”
He laughed. “Yeah, maybe my friend.”
“What can I help you with, Justin?” he asked, taking a drag.
“I had a follow up question for you.”
“Did the schedule help?”
It didn't either way. No one on the schedule was tied to either victim. It ended up being a dead end, but he appreciated his friend’s assistance. “Yeah, thanks.”
He took a drag and passed it to his friend. “Are you sure?”
“No, I quit once I left the Middle East.”
“Lucky you. I’m addicted,” he replied. “Do you have any residual effects from the war?”
He shrugged. “I have some dreams every once and a while. How about you?”
“I blackout sometimes but other than that, I try to keep it quiet. I don’t need to lose my job or for them to think I’m crazy.”
“You’re crazy.”
He laughed. “Shhhh, that’s a closely guarded military secret.”
“Anyway, the question,” Justin began. He needed to get back to the office. There were things on his list to handle today.
“Shoot.”
“Did Josh Devaul and Brock Edwards work as partners on the ambulance?” he asked.
He looked surprised. “I don’t think so. It’s a fairly large ambulance crew. Do you think they had something to do with this?”
Justin didn't know. “Not sure, but I need to see if they are tied together in any way.”
Lenny tried to recall seeing them together. “I don’t believe they were ever in the ER at the same time. But then again, it gets crazy here, and before you know it, you lose track of the time and the people around you.”
Justin understood. He imagined it was like tunnel vision in the battle zone. “If you see them together, will you give me a call?” he asked.
“You know it, bro. Stay out of trouble,” he said, hugging his friend. “We have to get a beer some time! I know this great bar.”
Justin tuned around. “I’ll even buy.”
“Deal!”
Walking away, Justin began pondering his plan for tonight. He had big plans and only a few hours to do it. So, he pulled out his phone, and started dialing.
It was time to take care of business and secure his future.
Back at the office, everything was quiet too. Then again, weekends generally were. The businesses around them were just beginning to open, and soon people would be milling around. The day was running smoothly, just like any other normal day at work
Justin was glad. Today was going to be one that he never forgot, and he only hoped it was going to have a positive outcome.
Inside the meeting room, he found his brother and Tori working, and when he saw the files he whistled. “Did you two just break into the police precinct and steal those?”
They both found that entertaining.
“No, we had that meeting with the commissioner, and he hired us as sub-contractors to find the missing girl,” Tori replied.
“Seriously? We’re officially working with the police?”
Julian nodded. “Ironic, isn’t it? After all this covert bullshit, to not get caught, and they go and hand us keys to the kingdom anyway.”
“What I call it is freaking bizarre.”
His brother told him everything else that happened, and Justin didn't look at all happy, and honestly, Julian couldn’t blame him. They just pointed an angry, gun toting detective at all of them, including the women.
Both men shared a look. While they wouldn’t say anything out loud, it was still clearly there on their faces.
“Put it away,” Tori warned. She had seen it plenty of times before and didn't need them thinking that it was going to be happening. She was carrying a sidearm, and they weren’t.
Julian changed the subject. “What did you pick up at the hospital?”
“Not much. My friend Lenny doesn’t think they worked together, but he isn’t sure.”
Tori knew how to fix that. “As soon as Vivian gets here, let’s have her call the paramedic office and ask.”
Justin only heard one part of that. “Vivian is coming here?”
It was entertaining to watch him look so love struck. Cupid didn't hit him once. He hit Justin about twenty times, by the look of it.
“Yeah, she’s coming here.”
Tori could see the quick flash of nerves. “Are you ready for tonight?”
“I’m scared shitless, and I may throw up.”
Julian snorted. “That sounds about right.”
“Hey!” Tori objected. “Are you alluding that you wanted to be sick when you proposed to me?”
He leaned over and kissed her. “I had a hangover and was in pain from the tattoo, so yeah, I was ready to be sick. What I was referring to was the fact that my life hung in that moment. If you said no, then I was lost.”
It was hard to not recall that day. He’d proposed on a crime scene after a fist fight and a night of binge drinking to forget their argument.
What a day that was…
And yet she still said yes, so go figure.
Leaning over, she laid a kiss delicately on his lips. “Best day of my life,” she whispered, before she shifted her focus back to Justin. “Have faith, you’ll get through it. What’s meant to be will be. I tried to get away from Julian and look how that ended up.”
“I know it will. I’m just nervous. I’ve never wanted to ask anyone to marry me. I always assumed I was beyond redemption. I guess this outcome is all going to come down to the girl.”
Tori patted him on the arm “We’re all worthy of love and a second chance, Justin. Even those of us that saw too much, stole too many lives, and sold our souls.”
Julian continued, “Maybe that means you’re worth more, not less.”
Tori and Justin shared a look. They’d served and they carried scars no one else would understand.
They had a bond, no
w as brother and sister, beyond the military.
“I’m glad I have you both,” he stated. “You make this all so much easier.”
Julian grinned. “We love you too, bro.”
Tori knew what would get them through this moment. “How about we get back to work?”
Both agreed.
It was time.
Vivian arrived at the office without her partner. He refused to go with her. When she left, he was going through their copy of the files, including Tawny James’s information. They didn't have full files, but they had enough to try and find something.
As she approached the door, she had to admit that it was pretty funny that she spent the last few days sneaking around, and now she was free to come and go into the office all she wanted.
Yeah, that was priceless.
Then and there, she decided to stop fighting fate. It seemed to be doing a damn good job of leading her where she needed to be.
After all, it helped her find Justin.
Walking in, there was no one at the secretary’s desk, so she called for Tori and Julian.
When Justin’s head popped out of the office, her smile must have said it all, because he immediately reciprocated it and rushed towards her.
“Hey, baby!”
She hugged him and enjoyed the scent of his cologne. It was nice to be back in his arms. Vivian knew they weren’t apart that long, but she really loved being near him.
“Where is everyone?” she mumbled into his shirt collar.
Justin didn't want to let her go, but knew he needed to do just that. While his brother and Tori were fairly freewheeling when it came to affection in the workplace, he didn't want to push his luck. Being this close to Vivian made him want to go well beyond affection, right into sex.
“They’re going over the files,” he said, taking her hand in his and leading her to the room. It made his heart pound, as she clung to him. No wonder his brother always wanted to be in direct contact with Tori. This was a pretty amazing feeling.
Once inside, he took a seat and Vivian sat beside him. Before he could say anything, she spoke.
“I want to thank you all for covering for me the last few days. I know you didn't have to do it, and it meant everything to me. I’ve never had the luxury of trusting people with my secret before, and it has made it so much easier to carry it.”
Justin kissed her on the temple. “I’ll always protect you.”
Tori smiled as they stared at each other. It made her so happy that Justin was finding peace.
They all deserved it.
“Is your partner still pissed off?” Julian asked, knowing that this had to really be killing the man.
Justin didn't even think about that. Shit! If he even gave Vivian a hard time, the man was going to have bigger issues than working with some ‘Indians’.
“Yeah, he’s stirred up something fierce. I’ve never seen him this mad before.”
Justin and Julian stared at each other. Neither man looked happy to hear that.
“Did you find anything new since we left you?” Tori inquired, focusing them back on work.
“I did a search on the Russian model. It looks like Viktor is pretty clean on paper. He doesn’t have any arrest records and is here on a work visa. During his clothed moments of the day,” she began, “he works in an office as some paper pusher.”
“So nothing?” Tori asked.
“Nada. Not even a speeding ticket,” she replied.
Vivian slid a business card across the table towards them. “Here is his personal cell phone number. I didn't get a chance to compare it to the first woman’s phone records.”
Julian took it and smiled. There was no doubt how she got this number. The man must have given it to her. Then, he looked at his brother and started laughing. The expression on his face was priceless.
“He gave you his number?” Justin asked, as the green-eyed jealousy monster reared its ugly head.
“Yeah, he did. It was right after he asked me out for dinner and various sex acts,” she teased. Vivian thought it was cute how he was all riled up over it. It was nice to have someone so worked up over her.
“Why didn't you toss it?” His blood pressure was spiking, and he was trying to remain in control.
Vivian leaned closer and placed her palm on his cheek. “Because he was a slippery snake, and if a possible suspect is going to hand me evidence, well hell, I’m taking it.”
That seemed to calm him down.
Justin took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
Now, she gave him a peck on the lips. “No need to apologize,” she stated.
Tori laughed. “You let him off too easy. Now Julian is going to expect me to accommodate his jealous streak and cut him a break too.”
“Yeah I do,” he answered.
Vivian shrugged. “Well, you’re married so that’s a completely different situation. I’m only dating Justin.”
When she looked down, they all shared a look regarding what was coming.
Boy was she in for a big surprise.
Chapter Sixteen
When Kane and Christina arrived back at the office, they too were holding hands and laughing. Heading in to see the bosses, they took their customary seats and greeted the detective warmly.
“Did you find anything?” Julian asked.
“Well,” Kane began, “that place was a hotbed of gossip. Since they had the news on, people were openly talking about it. All we had to do was sit there quietly and just listen. It was pretty enlightening.”
Tori let Vivian in on what they were supposed to do. “We sent them to the coffee shop right next to the fire hall and paramedic building.”
“That was pretty clever,” she admitted.
“Well, it worked,” Christina stated. “At first, it was all about the two women. People have already started comparing the cases and saying that Melissa Lagerfeld will be the next to be found dead.”
“Not likely, I haven’t had a dream,” Vivian stated. “I know it’s bizarre, but they’re pretty spot on. As far as I’m concerned, she’s alive.”
“We believe you,” Julian stated. “The dreams were incredibly accurate so far, and I don’t buy that it’s a coincidence.”
Kane continued, “Well, then the news story came on the local station, and it showed the boyfriend weeping. Suddenly, the mood changed and not how you may think.”
“How?” Tori asked the man.
“The word on the street is that Josh Devaul wasn’t exactly a doting boyfriend. He had a wandering eye and possibly other body parts.”
That didn't surprise any of them. They had suspected it, since the couple had been together almost three years and not committed to more than just dating.
“So this is all an act?” Justin asked, thinking back to how hard the man was crying on the scene. Deep down, it appalled him that the guy was putting on a show. If anything were to happen to Vivian, the tears would be very real. It would make him nothing more than a shell of a broken man.
“Probably not,” Vivian stated, as she stared at the man beside her. His face was a storm of emotions, and so were his eyes. “He’s probably feeling guilty, or he’s afraid the truth will come out.”
Tori leaned back in her chair and locked her fingers behind her head as she pondered it all. “So, two women have gone missing, and both the boyfriend and ex are paramedics. What does that tell us?” she asked.
“That where there’s smoke there’s fire.” Julian replied. He was a tracker, so this was a little out of his realm. His wife was the ex-FBI agent. She was the one who worked the other angles for him.
Tori hated to say this, but she knew she needed to do it. “When he takes the next victim, we need to move fast. If he’s keeping one in a cage, and Vivian saw that blood rage for the second, we have no clue what he’s planning for number three.”
“Do you think there’s going to be a third?” Justin asked.
They all glanced over at Vivian.
“Yeah,
I think there will be. In the dreams, he felt desperate. I don’t think he’s all there mentally. If he stops now, I’ll be surprised.”
Then, they needed to be ready.
“Do we have confirmation on how Tawny James died?” Julian asked, needing a little more background on what they were working against.
Vivian was glad that she could give them that answer. “I wandered down there. The one tech who is really friendly was easy to chat it up. She mentioned that the woman was strangled, and that the killer had crushed her windpipe.”
“That’s some rage,” stated Kane. “He must have been furious.”
Christina agreed. “The person had to be pretty strong. I imagine that Tawny was fighting. No one just stands there and lets someone assault them. Instinct kicks in, as does the need to survive,” she stated. In her career, she’d seen plenty of crime scenes.
“Maybe he’s not that strong, but was lost in a rage,” Vivian stated. “The red haze in the dream was pretty clear. He was out for blood, so to speak.”
They all agreed on that one.
“So, we have someone who’s unhinged,” Tori stated. “Wow, it’s like working for the FBI in the homicide division all over again.”
Julian wasn’t really thrilled with that. When they were working together for the Blackhawks, he nearly lost her twice to crazed nut jobs. It was one of the reasons that he was at peace now. Their job was dangerous, but not nearly that bad.
“The lab assistant said that she didn't drown.”
Christina chimed in, offering her expertise since she had worked with the FBI medical examiner. “The coroner probably didn't find water in her lungs, which means that she was dead before she hit the water.”
Kane glanced over at the excitement in Christina’s voice. Once more, the dread surfaced. Here was his bright, vibrant woman, and she sounded so happy to be talking forensics. He swallowed the worry that was churning in his gut.
Vivian agreed with Christina. “When he pushed her down that hill, he likely expected that the water would carry her away. What he didn't realize is that downstream was a beaver dam. It’s pretty blocked up, and that’s why the water was so deep and flowing slowly. It created a pool to hold her body. He screwed that one up.”
Blood Red Rage (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 1) Page 24