Long, Lean and Lethal

by O'Clare, Lorie

  He nodded, more than willing to let her navigate. “Either she didn’t know about the last victim or she tested us to make sure we didn’t know about the murders like we claimed.”

  “That crossed my mind, too. And what about her locking the doors? Possibly she has visitors comfortable enough to simply walk in when they stop by.”

  “It could have just been a safety precaution. I would have done the same thing, too, if I were getting naked in a hot tub with a couple ladies. I wouldn’t leave my home unattended without locking doors.”

  “Turn there!” Rain pointed to the left when he’d almost driven through the intersection, and he slowed in time to make it without pissing off anyone behind him. “Sorry,” she said, and patted his head roughly but then combed his hair with her fingers.

  She didn’t know how damn good it felt with her touching him. “So either way we can mark her down as cautious, whether it be concern of usually welcome guests showing up or possibly unwelcome ones.”

  “She does have company from time to time.”

  “Yup. The lactose-intolerant cheese. Mr. Steve Porter is there enough that she includes him in her grocery-shopping list. Makes you wonder how many she entertains. She’s definitely got the house for it.”

  “Did you notice her comment right after we got there? She said she hoped she didn’t have to move again. She is self-employed. Maybe she’s not doing as well as she once was.”

  “I’ll see if we can gather any information on her income,” he said.

  “What was your take on the wine?” Rain looked at him expectantly as if quizzing him and waiting to see if he’d get the answer right.

  Noah grinned. “You mean that she buys wine but doesn’t know what to drink it with? And expensive wine at that.”

  “If she’s the one buying it.”

  “Sounds like we still have a lot to learn about Joanna Hill.”

  “It also sounds like she can’t wait for you to know her better.” Rain made a face and stuck her tongue out at him when he looked her way quickly. “I’m not jealous,” she said, glaring at him. Then glancing out the front window, she pointed to a strip mall on the right. “There’s your flower shop.”

  “Hinders’ Greenhouse. Crap.” Noah stared at the large sign on the building that was actually a greenhouse detached from the strip mall but used the same parking lot. As he turned into the lot, he noticed several buildings behind the store, which he guessed made the flower shop actually a nursery. “I don’t know why I didn’t put it together before. I bet you this might be the shop Lorrie Hinders and her husband owned. If it is, I’m surprised that it’s still open.”

  There weren’t any doubts when they pulled in front of the shop, parked, and noticed the display just inside the window. Done up tastefully, using a variety of different types of black flowers, a sign on the display said: “In memory of our beloved Lorrie.”

  “Damn.” Rain got out and stood on her side of the car until he walked around and faced her. “Lorrie is the victim Joanna didn’t mention. Granted she was just killed but she’s been dead long enough for those who really loved her to do this. I wonder why Joanna didn’t mention her.”

  Rain looked at him as if he would explain. More than anything he wished he could give her an answer that would wipe the lines of worry and frustration from her face.

  “All we can do now is everything in our power to prevent anyone else from being killed,” he whispered. Then because he wanted to, he cupped her cheek and felt the warmth from her skin seep into his palm.

  She nodded, patted the back of his hand with her fingers, and then stepped around him. He turned, putting his arm around her waist, and headed into the flower store, which turned out to sell a hell of a lot more than just flowers.

  “I’ve always loved these,” Rain whispered, looking up at him with such a peaceful smile that instantly he felt a pang of jealousy over the stone birdbath she stroked with her fingers.

  Which was idiotic. He glanced down at the carving of a small boy hoisting a jug over his shoulders. Water spilled from the jug into a large bowl. But it was the way her fingers moved over the stone that grabbed Noah’s attention. At first she caressed it with three, but then she made a fist, extending her index finger, and appeared to be pointing at something.

  Noah searched her face, the pleasant, relaxed expression that would honestly make anyone watching believe that all they cared about was how to landscape their yard. “Are you sure there isn’t anything else you like better?”

  He glanced around the store and then focused in the direction she pointed. A woman stood alone on the other side of the store, holding a gardening “how to” book. When he looked at her, she glanced up and then smiled. Placing the book back, she walked over to them casually like they were old friends. Noah was positive he’d never seen the woman before.

  “Hi, Rain.” She nodded at him. “Hello,” she added, but then looked at Rain again. “Whenever you’re ready,” she said under her breath.

  Noah glanced at the kid behind the counter, who seemed more intent on text messaging on his phone than trying to help customers. He guessed that Lorrie Hinders’ husband was probably busy with family matters and funeral arrangements and had entrusted his store to hired help. There were a few other people in the store, all who appeared focused on finding what they needed. No one gave them any attention.

  “We might have to come back and get this.” Rain looked up at him, and although she no longer whispered, her soft-spoken words weren’t meant to advertise their conversation.

  “We’ll see,” he said, and reached around to grab her ponytail at the nape of her neck and gave it an affectionate tug.

  Her smile didn’t fade and she willingly remained at his side as they walked out of the store with the woman behind them. He’d have to give it to Rain: she was a natural at undercover work.

  Once outside, she made little ceremony out of leaning into him and giving him a peck on the cheek. “See you in a bit,” she said casually, and then turned and headed across the parking lot with the woman.

  Noah didn’t have a clue who she was, but obviously Rain did. Brenda simply had told him on the phone they would meet with a pickup who would take Rain to the station. Lincoln was a good-sized city, but the wrong person seeing them arrive at the police station and their cover would be blown.

  He watched the women get into a minivan while chatting with each other. Neither of them looked his way as they drove off.

  Noah climbed into his car, immediately finding himself bombarded by too many thoughts. Although he was alone the first half of the day, Rain was at the house, stuck there because he took the rental. For some reason her leaving now, with a coworker more than likely, re-entering her own world, created an emptiness inside him he didn’t like.

  And this wasn’t like him. Realizing suddenly that it would be a hell of a lot easier to follow them to the station than try to remember how to get there from this part of town, Noah started the car quickly and backed out of the stall.

  This wasn’t his first undercover case with a partner. And it wasn’t the first time he’d worked with a woman. He’d slept with some of them, and others he hadn’t. Once he started getting serious with Laurel, Brenda didn’t assign him cases where he was put in an intimate situation with a woman. But even then, when he was alone he was content. It struck him as odd, now that he thought about it, that he never missed Laurel when he wasn’t with her. They talked on the phone and that was enough.

  Maybe he was getting older. Somehow he didn’t keep his guard up at the right moment. Or possibly he’d slipped and let things get too personal. For whatever reasons, even after a couple days, Rain had crept under his skin. She might be denying it, at least to him, but he sensed Rain felt something similar.

  Noah pulled into a stall next to Rain and the woman with her, relieved that he’d had these moments to come to terms with where his emotions were heading. It was best to see it now, before it got too late. From this point forward, h
e would keep his heart in check.

  It was almost worth having a good laugh over. There were times when Noah worried a partner might get too attached and therefore hurt. Never would he have believed it would happen to him. Damn good thing he caught it early, before damage was done. Rain might be hot, with the feistiest personality he’d ever seen on a lady, and one hell of an incredible lover, but Noah wasn’t available. He was married to the FBI, plain and simple. Never again would a lady rip his heart out the way Laurel did.

  “Hey, Noah. Good to see you didn’t get lost.” Rain laughed and grinned broadly at him as she walked around the front of the minivan. “This is Detective Alicia Gomez,” Rain continued, gesturing at the woman who pointed her key chain at the van until the lights on it flashed and it honked once. “Everyone calls her Al. She hates both her nickname and given name, so you can’t go wrong with either.”

  “Special Agent Kayne, it’s nice to meet you.” Al didn’t look like an Al. Although she didn’t quite look like an Alicia, either. Her black hair was cut short and straightened so that it hugged the length of her neck. She was a bit more muscular looking than Rain but definitely not to the point where it looked unappealing.

  Al made a face at Rain and then smiled up at him; being a few inches shorter than Rain, that meant she tilted her neck to look at his face. Bright white teeth and deep, forest green eyes contrasted nicely with her tan skin.

  “Rain told me the two of you spent the afternoon interrogating one of your suspects naked in a hot tub. Hell of a way to earn your paycheck,” Al added, her grin broadening as she turned and started toward the station.

  Noah raised his eyebrows at Rain, surprised she would so easily share the story of their time with Joanna. Granted both of them would have to create reports, which meant many of their activities wouldn’t be confidential. Nonetheless, Rain didn’t strike him as someone who would so easily admit she’d been in a hot tub with a man and a woman naked.

  “Al is in homicide with me. She’s going to be my connection on the inside when I can’t access files here at the station,” Rain explained as they entered the station, and then placed her purse in a tray next to the metal detector and chatted easily with the cop on duty. Once they were through, Rain led the way to the stairs. “She’s already working up a psychological profile on the evidence we have gathered so far.”

  “Good.” He didn’t bother adding that the FBI had a profiler working on the case. It wouldn’t hurt to have two opinions on what made their killer click. He followed the women down the stairs and then entered a large room. A row of desks and computer equipment made the area look like many detectives’ work areas.

  Chief Noble looked up as the three entered. The chief stood, his attention on Rain.

  “There you two are. Thanks, Al, for hauling our girl down here. Why don’t you stay here and enjoy a good show.”

  “And miss Sex in the City?” Al sounded shocked.

  “Last I heard you didn’t even have a TV.” The chief didn’t wait for her to respond but walked over to refill his coffee cup. “We’re here for an in-person brainstorming meeting. I want to hear everything you have right now. We have Brenda Thornton, Special Agent Kayne’s supervisor, here on speakerphone. Brenda, you’re joined by your special agent, Noah Kayne, Lieutenant Rain Huxtable, and Lieutenant Alicia Gomez, who is also in homicide.”

  “Hello, everyone,” Brenda piped up through the box on the desk. “Get your coffee and get comfortable and let me know when you’re ready.” Even from across the country, Brenda was quick to take charge.

  Rain nodded and headed back toward the refrigerator. Pulling out a can of Diet Dr Pepper, she popped the lid and then stood to the side, quiet and watching while Al started discussing the caliber and rifling of the bullets found in each of the victims.

  “Looks like we’re ready,” Noah offered for Brenda’s benefit when Al took a breath.

  “Oh, sorry,” Al said, grinning at the box.

  “Let’s get started,” Chief Noble instructed, sitting behind the desk and adjusting the box so it faced Rain and Noah, with Al standing to the side, leaning against a nearby desk.

  “We know we’ve got the same killer targeting a certain type of people,” Brenda mused.

  “We know each victim is being killed by the same weapon,” Rain pointed out. She focused on Al. “If all the tests are in and conclusive.”

  “Each of our victims was killed with a .32-caliber bullet. Clean shot to the side of the head—dead instantly. Whoever our perpetrator is, they know how to shoot.” Al stood facing all of them and rocked up on the balls of her feet and then clasped her hands behind her back. “Now I could speculate—”

  “Speculate on your own time,” Brenda interrupted. “Tonight I want to hear facts.”

  “Excuse me,” Rain interrupted. “If we had facts, we’d have our killer. Speculation is part of a brainstorming meeting.”

  Noah was sure he saw Chief Noble wince. More than likely the older cop anticipated the fireworks in this meeting as much as Noah did. Noah leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

  “Go on with what you were going to say.” Rain glared at the speakerphone box for merely a moment before nodding to Al.

  “I called this meeting to hear what you already have,” Brenda’s voice chirped through the speakerphone. “So unless you’re trying to cover up the fact that you can’t do the job—”

  “How dare you!” Rain stood and reached for the speakerphone, as if she would shut it off.

  “Oh, I definitely dare,” Brenda barked before Rain reached the box. “Speculate on your own time. Give me the facts right now, if you have any. If not, this meeting is over, and Chief, we’ll discuss how we’ll proceed from here on out.”

  “You are not taking me off this case,” Rain hissed, her eyes violet as she pressed her fists on the desk and glared at Chief Noble.

  “Rain, that’s enough,” the chief barked.

  “You’re damned straight that’s enough. I want her off this case right now!” Brenda yelled through the speakerphone. “I’ve already worried—”

  “Everyone stop!” Noah moved in quickly, leaning forward so his voice would be heard over everyone else’s through the speakerphone. “If she’s off the case then so am I.”

  “Think carefully about what you’re saying,” Brenda whispered, her voice crackling through the small speaker.

  Noah didn’t hesitate. “I didn’t want to work with local police on this any more than Rain wanted to work with me.”

  “And we didn’t want the interference,” Chief Noble piped in. “But we’ve got four murders. I don’t want five.”

  “None of us do,” Rain said, her expression still harsh as loose strands of dark hair fell free from her hair clasp at her neck and bordered her flushed face. “Noah and I have already made contact with two of the members of the swingers’ group our victims were involved with. Even today, we spent time with a Joanna Hill, who knew all of the victims.”

  “And?” Brenda asked.

  “And we’ll share what she told us and our feelings on her reaction to the murders,” Rain answered quickly. She then nodded to Al, who stood with her arms crossed, watching all of them as if it were the best entertainment she’d witnessed in a while. “First I’d like to hear what Al has to say, if that’s okay with you?” Rain added, her question so weighted with venomous sarcasm it wasn’t missed by anyone as she glared at the small box on the desk.

  Silence weighed heavily in the room and finally there was a crackling sound through the speaker before Brenda spoke. “Fine. Impress the hell out of me,” she said flippantly. “You may proceed, Lieutenant Gomez.”

  Al looked to her chief for his consent, but Noah didn’t focus on Noble. Turning to Rain, her defenses running high, Noah walked into her and forced her to back up and perch her pretty ass against the nearest desk. She sighed loud enough to show him she was still wound tight, but he didn’t worry about keeping her in line. Once they got into talking about th
e case he had a feeling it would consume her thoughts and she wouldn’t crave wringing his supervisor’s neck anymore.

  “All I planned to say was that I could speculate on the nature of our murderer from what we’ve learned about the murder weapon.” Al hurried to one of the desks in the back of the room and shuffled through paperwork. “Give me one second.”

  Rain glanced up at Noah and he met her fiery gaze. She looked away first, turning to focus on Al, and he studied Rain’s profile. Even with her thick dark hair pulled back in a bloodred velvet hair clasp, strands flowed free and caressed her milky complexion. Her back was slightly arched as she perched next to him, and the outline of her breasts simply added to a view of perfection.

  Noah blinked, forcing his attention to Al as well. But he glanced at Chief Noble and realized he’d been watching him. Noah looked away slowly but wasn’t sure what he read on the chief’s face—disgust, disappointment?

  “As you all know,” Al began again, walking over to Chief Noble’s desk and then spreading open several files and pulling out paperwork. “When a bullet comes out of a gun, the marks from the inside of the barrel are left on the bullet and that’s our rifling. And everyone knows rifling is like a fingerprint.” Al held up one of the pieces of paper. “Here is our rifling. Now of course the caliber also has to match the caliber the gun shoots.”

  Al fingered through the paperwork in her file, exhaling loudly, and finally pulled out some stapled papers. “We cross-referenced cases that have matched bulleting with different types of guns. Based on what we have on all four bullets from each crime scene, the rifling indicates we have one murder weapon.” Al shot Noah a furtive look. “I’ve already cross-referenced what the FBI has worked up on this case, since we have murders in other cities. We aren’t looking at the same murder weapon in the other cities as we are here in Lincoln.”

  “Are you sure about this?” Noah asked, leaving Rain’s side and reaching for the printout in Al’s hand.