With his gloved hand, Dorian tested the lock. "Open." Careful to make little noise, he slid the door slowly, leaving just enough of an opening so he could squeeze through. Dante indicated for her to go next and he brought up the rear. A foul order permeated the small kitchen. It smelled like a mixture of spoiled milk and stale tuna fish. Unwashed dishes were stacked in the sink and more beer cans littered the counter. She'd lay odds the room hadn't been cleaned in a decade. She was afraid to look too closely at the mess, sure she'd see a cockroach or worse—a rat— munching on leftovers.
From the kitchen, they entered a small living room. The hinges on the slightly open front door creaked softly as it caught in the wind. Dorian moved to a closed door down a narrow hallway and stuck his ear to the panel, shaking his head. Dante eased beside him and with their guns at the ready, Dorian twisted the knob.
The first thing Kendall noticed was the smell. It washed over her in sickening deja vu, the foul stench imprinted on her brain forever. It was the same smell she remembered from the night in the hotel when her friends had been slaughtered.
Dorian dropped his weapon and pulled her against his chest so she wouldn't see inside but it was too late. Lying on the bed on sheets now stained crimson was George Williams with a gaping hole in his chest.
"Someone beat us to him."
#
"Shouldn't we call this in?" Kendall asked as they headed back to the truck. They'd left as swiftly and stealthily as they entered, not wanting anyone to spot them at the scene of the crime.
Dorian shook his head. "Someone will miss the SOB soon enough and go looking for him."
"His partner was afraid Mylonas would remember him," Costa deduced as he gathered their com devices and stashed them in his bag.
Dorian helped Kendall into the back and then closed the door. He slid into the passenger seat and snapped his belt into place. "And he knew the maggot would rat him out. Let's head to the hospital. I want to fill Alex in on the murder."
Costa started the truck and pulled away from the curb. He navigated the streets to the hospital with Dorian's directions. They took the elevator to Alex's floor and Dorian greeted the new guard on duty. The man checked the clipboard and allowed them to pass through. Alex's mom was twittering away happily as her hands wielded knitting needles like a virtuoso. She stuffed the yarn into a bag when they entered. "I was just about to get some coffee." She leaned down and kissed Alex's forehead. "I'll be back later." She smiled and squeezed Dorian's arm as she left the room.
Alex was awake but groggy. One eye was still swollen shut, but the oxygen tubes had been removed from his nose. That was a good sign.
"Hey, Demon," he rasped. "Kendall, Costa."
Kendall leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You worried us," she said, clutching his hand.
"Kinda worried myself," he joked. He moved his head to check the door before he asked Dorian in a low voice, "Did you talk to Williams?"
"Not exactly."
"Why not?"
"We'll need Madam Cleo to speak with him," Dorian remarked.
Alex's brows lifted. "No shit?"
"He hadn't been dead long when we got there. We figured that when the plan to kill you failed, they had to get rid of Williams, knowing you could finger him."
"That fat bastard would've sung like a canary with a little pressure," Alex agreed. "Did you report it?"
Dorian shook his head.
"Good. Someone will check on him when he doesn't show up for work. Probably his sniveling partner Monte Woods."
"What about his partner? Could he have been the other attacker?" Costa asked.
"No way. That guy is the definition of milquetoast. He jumps when a door slams. The man who attacked me ordered Williams around. Williams was definitely afraid or at least intimidated by him."
"Didn't they get in the middle of a gang fight a few years ago? Best I recall, it messed Woods up pretty bad," Dorian remembered.
"Yeah, Williams' mouth started the fight but Woods was the one to almost bleed out."
"I know he was slashed with a knife. Does he have any scars, say around a wrist?"
"Son of a bitch." Alex tried to sit up but the tubes in his arms stopped him. "I need to get out of here. Help me."
Dorian calmed him down with a hand to the shoulder. "You just had major surgery. You're battered and bruised. You aren't going anywhere."
"Why didn't I think of that before? I need to check him out. I've never noticed a scar, but he could keep it covered."
"I'm assuming there was a report filed…pictures taken?" Costa asked.
"Had to be," Alex agreed. "They arrested several of the gang members and sentenced them to prison. They would've needed pictures for the trial."
"We need a copy of the report. I'm on it." Costa dialed a number on his cell. "Hey, Mags." He moved to the far end of the room to talk to the COBRA office manager.
Kendall helped Alex resettle in the bed. His blood pressure had spiked with the excitement and a nurse popped her head into the room. "Y'all need to leave now. You're upsetting the patient."
"They didn't upset me," Alex assured her. "We just discovered a vital piece of information on an important case."
She strode purposefully into the room. "In case you haven't noticed, you're in the hospital, not at work. You need to rest and heal." She checked his monitors and made notes on a clipboard she'd pulled from a slot at the end of his bed. "
"Yes, ma'am," Alex relented.
Dorian smirked at his friend, who shot him the bird.
"And you," she said, pointing a pen at Dorian. "If you keep distressing the patient, I'll have to bar you from visiting."
"Yes, ma'am," he parroted Alex in a conciliatory tone. He glanced over at Costa, who was still on the phone but clearly laughing at his dressing-down. It was his turn to fly the bird.
"Five more minutes and then you need to leave. The patient needs to rest."
"I have a name," Alex grumbled as she marched out the door.
Dante disconnected and paced back to the bed. "Maggie's on it. She's going to email the case files as soon as she accesses them."
Alex opened his mouth to say something and then closed it. "I don't even want to know how she obtains them, but forward me a copy."
"And risk the wrath of Nurse Ratched?" Dorian teased. "No way."
"Just do it, Demon." Alex clearly wasn't in the mood to joke around.
There was a knock on the door and Alex's mom stuck her head back inside. "I can wait out here if you still need to chat."
"Come on in, Mrs. M." Dorian motioned her inside. "We need to take off." They said their goodbyes, with Dorian promising to forward the files to Alex. They made their way to the truck and Dorian guided them to a small tavern that served the best fried chicken in Chicago.
#
Kendall sprawled on the couch as Dorian started a fire. Dante was showering. They'd returned to the cabin after a dinner that consisted of fried chicken swimming in grease and salty French fries. It was the best chicken she'd ever eaten. She vowed to eat a salad but once they were seated and the smells wafted over her, her resolve crumbled like a house of cards in a strong wind. She didn't even stop at one breast, she devoured two. She'd even downed a few pieces of homemade bread to soak up all the grease in her stomach.
Her boss would throw a fit and order her to the gym if she showed up ten pounds heavier…that is, if she went back. She'd been thinking about her future quite a bit the last few days and she just didn't have the drive anymore that the job required. It was demanding and time-consuming. Maybe she was just depressed over the loss of her friends, but she didn't have the energy to chase after a story or dig for scandals. Reporting the news used to be fun. Now it…wasn't.
She didn't know what the next chapter in her life would hold, but she was pretty sure it wouldn't be as a reporter in New York. She loved the City and the cute apartment she shared with Olivia. They'd decorated it with shabby chic finds from flea markets and unique works of art f
rom local artisans. She even enjoyed her job once upon a time. But after the last week, it felt like a lifetime ago. She didn't want to leave her roommate, especially after losing Stef, Bridget and Kiki, but with all the social media options available, they would easily keep in touch.
She glanced up at Dorian as he stacked logs next to the hearth. What did the future hold for them? Did he want her in his life? The answer to that question was easy for her. She definitely wanted him in hers. He was everything she wasn't even looking for in a man: strong, intelligent, handsome, dependable, capable, sexy as sin. And he adored his mother. He was the only good thing to come from the tragedy. If someone had told her that she would meet the man of her dreams when she boarded the plane a week ago, she would have laughed in their face. She didn't have time to date, let alone a relationship. But he came crashing into her life anyway. She didn't plan it, but she thanked God for him.
He looked up and caught her staring. A slow smile spread across his lips. He rose slowly and stalked towards her. She felt like prey caught in a hunter's sights. She let out a squeal when he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.
"What about the fire?" she asked.
"Costa can enjoy it," he said before he proceeded to devour her like the predator he was, kissing his way down her body.
Yes, she definitely wanted him in her life…maybe forever.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Saturday, September 25
"Good morning."
Kendall smiled and returned Dante's greeting. She'd hurried through her shower, afraid Dorian would try to jump in with her. If he did, they might not leave the room all day. He was showering now and it was all she could do not to scurry back and join him.
She padded to the fridge for the orange juice. "Have you heard from Maggie?"
"Last night. I would've told you about it, but…" He let the sentence hang with meaning. Her cheeks heated and she didn't want to turn around. Had she been that loud?
"It was after midnight," he continued. "I didn't want to wake you."
She was pretty sure he was lying, but she appreciated the effort. She did face him this time and smiled. "Juice?' She held the carton aloft.
"Sure, I'll have a shot."
She opened the cabinet and withdrew two glasses.
"I'll have one, too," Dorian said, padding into the room.
She got down another glass and poured them each some juice. She handed one to each of them.
"Did I hear you say Maggie sent the file?"
Dante took a swig and nodded. He flipped open the lid on his laptop and scrolled through the transcripts. Dorian looked over one shoulder while Kendall moved to the other side to view the files.
"I've scanned through them," he said as he pulled up the photo evidence. "I would've woken you up if there was anything here, but there isn't."
He clicked through each successive picture showing the wounds that Williams and Woods received. They were gruesome, especially the lacerations Woods suffered, but none would have left the jagged scar they were searching for.
"Back to square one," Dorian grumbled.
"I couldn't sleep last night," Dante said, and again she wondered if she was the reason. She made a mental note to ask Dorian if she'd been too loud. "I started thinking about the note Stefani sent." He picked up the postcard Olivia brought from New York. "I did some research…do any of these sound familiar, Kendall?" He read the names of several movies.
"Spy Boss," Kendall said, interrupting him halfway through the list. "That's got to be it. We saw it in a theater downtown. How did you find it?"
"I searched for movies that would've been released around the time you were in school. Then I narrowed it down to ones that had anything to do with corporate espionage."
Kendall gasped and clutched Dorian's arm. "I know what she's trying to tell me. We have to get to her apartment now."
#
After stopping by the store to pick up groceries to stock Stefani's apartment for Cassie, they headed to her complex. Dante parked close to an exit two buildings away in case they needed to make a quick getaway. Before they got out, they all donned their vests and comm devices. Dante was going to help carry the bags then he was heading back outside to serve as a look-out. Dorian believed in being prepared.
They took the flight of steps up to her unit. Kendall found the key where Cassie told her it would be: inside a planter beside the door. "Stefani was famous for forgetting her…" her voice stalled as the door creaked open before she touched it.
Dorian dropped the bags to the walkway and was beside her in an instant with his weapon drawn. He held her back with his hand. Dante was right beside him, Glock poised for any trouble. "Wait here," he whispered. He and Dante disappeared inside, communicating silently with nods and hand signals.
Kendall placed her bags on the ground and withdrew her gun, searching the area for any threats. The men were back quickly. Dorian grabbed her shoulders. "This is going to be hard for you," he said, his thumbs stroking her. She stashed her weapon, took a deep breath, stepped past him and gasped. The apartment had been ransacked. Furniture was overturned, cushions slashed to shreds. Pictures had been ripped from the walls, the glass frames shattered on the floor. No surface had been left untouched. The perps had even opened every food box in the kitchen, the contents strewn across the floor.
"Try not to touch anything," Dorian cautioned. "The investigation is still open, but this isn't the work of the police. We need to call this in as a break-in when we leave."
Kendall stood numbly in the middle of the living room. She slowly rotated to take in all of the damage. "Cassie can't see it like this." Dorian gathered her close, offering her his strength. Dante tilted his head to the door and Dorian nodded. More silent communication as Dante slipped outside to keep watch. She glanced up at him, blinking back tears. "We have to clean this up before she arrives."
Dorian squeezed her closer. "As soon as the police release it, I'll get a crew in here to clean it up and salvage what they can."
She honestly didn't know what she would do without his support. She'd stayed strong throughout the whole excruciating nightmare, but this was almost her undoing. It seemed so cold to destroy the home of a murder victim, leaving the damage for the grieving family. The same thing had happened to Rick Fleming's family and Hank Colbert…worse for Hank since they blew his home to smithereens. "Thank you."
Dorian brushed a kiss across her lips, providing the spark she needed to put a lid on her emotions and focus on their mission. She inhaled deeply, feeling her strength and determination return. She started forward but Dorian caught her arm. "Be careful of the glass," he cautioned.
She glanced down and spotted a picture in a broken frame. She picked it up, gingerly shaking off the broken shards so she could trace a finger across the image. It was one of all four of them from a few years ago— the last time they were all together. They were hugging and smiling at the camera, full of life and aspirations. The thought of never seeing them again almost brought her to her knees.
Once again, Dorian's strength fortified her. He massaged her shoulders, offering silent comfort. She flipped open the stand on the back of the frame and placed the photo on a table. She'd ask Cassie if she could keep it later.
"What are we looking for?"
"Spy Boss was about a company filled with corporate spies, all working for someone else," she explained. "There was a crucial piece of intel that one of the spies uncovered. He needed to hide the disk from his competitors, so he slipped it into a cereal box."
Dorian swept a hand encompassing the kitchen, indicating the destruction. "It looks like the perps watched the same movie." Every box had been destroyed. "Do you think they found whatever it was Stefani was hiding?"
She shook her head and found the bathroom. He followed and flipped on the light. Stepping gingerly over the shattered mirror and toiletries, she continued, "After the movie, we started talking about where we would hide something important so that no one w
ould ever find it." She bent down to rummage under the sink. She reached inside and withdrew a box of tampons, holding it aloft with a victorious smile.
Dorian looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Do you…uh…need me to step outside…"
She laughed so hard she fell backwards onto her bottom. Her laugh quickly turned to a grimace. She reached beneath her and pulled out a brush. "Ow."
"Want me to kiss it better?" Dorian wagged his eyebrows. That rush of excitement shot through her, the one she associated only with him. He would make her feel this way fifty years from now. "Rain check?"
His grin was wicked. "You bet."
He helped her to her feet. "So what's with the box?"
"We thought it was the perfect hiding place since men are so queasy about feminine products, as you just demonstrated."
"But that box looks brand new," he observed.
"And that is the beauty of it," she remarked, sliding a nail under the flap. Opening the lid, she dumped the contents onto the counter and unwound the instructions. A small black object fell out. She held up the lipstick drive.
"Genius," Dorian praised. "Let’s get that baby to a computer and—"
"Get out now." Dante's voice cut through the headset. "You've got company. ETA thirty seconds."
Kendall frantically searched the bathroom but the only window was high on the wall and made of glass block. "I think Stef's bedroom has a small balcony," she whispered. "If we can get to it, it is just a short drop to the ground."
"Unfriendly entering now," Dante updated. "Solo. Black mask covering his face."
Trust No One Page 24