Reese nodded. “Yes.”
From what she’d remembered he usually went for days, sometimes weeks before killing again. Why had that changed? What could have possibly made him kill two days in a row?
“The HPD is dealing with a violent serial killer,” Joe said angrily. “It looks like the police department is going to have its hands full. The police chief and the mayor are holding a press conference this morning at ten. This is going to be one hell of a first day of work for you Kenna,” he said.
She smiled wryly. “I’ll be fine. Unless there’s a survivor in one of these attacks there won’t be much I can do,” she said.
“I don’t like this,” Reese said through clenched teeth. “I’d like to get my hands on the bastard.”
“Wait in line,” Joe chimed in. “The boys have already decided we got first dibs. His latest victim was only nineteen.”
Kenna glanced at Reese. “I need to get to work.”
“What about your breakfast?” he asked her. “You should eat something.”
She looked at the table and saw that he had prepared an egg sandwich on toast—just the way she liked it—and had poured a glass of orange juice for her. “Thanks. I’ll eat it on the way in.”
Chapter 17
Kenna glanced around her new office. She loved it. Back in Austin, all she’d had was a large cubicle that she’d shared with three other people. The office her new boss showed her when she arrived at work had a huge window that faced south and provided a beautiful view of downtown Houston’s skyline. In the distance, she could see the campus of the University of Houston.
Downtown Houston was busy. It wasn’t yet lunchtime and already the streets were crowded with pedestrians.
Kenna had grown up in the small Arizona town of Leupp. When she’d attended Spelman, an all-girls college in Atlanta, she had been in for a rude awakening. All of a sudden she had to find her way around a big city. Reese had followed in the footsteps of his older cousin Dex and his brother Luke to Morehouse, an all-male school near Spelman. He had helped Kenna make the transition from a small town to the big city fairly easy. When Reese had decided to get his graduate degree at the University of Texas in Austin, Kenna turned down a chance to study art in Paris to follow him to Austin instead.
She figured that sooner or later he would figure out why she always seemed to follow him. But when he decided to move back home to Houston five years ago, she made up her mind that it was time for her to stay put. They often talked on the phone and she was satisfied with his occasional visits to Austin to see her. When the offer to take the job in Houston came, Reese had been the one to encourage her to take it, and she had.
Now they were together in the same city again, and after last night they were together in a way they’d never been before. She had slept with Reese. She shook her head, remembering that they really hadn’t gotten much sleep. At least he hadn’t apologized this morning or tried to pretend nothing had happened. In fact, she was convinced that if they’d had enough time, they would have made love again this morning. He’d certainly been ready.
During the drive into work he hadn’t brought it up. Maybe it was because they were both preoccupied listening to the radio for information about the serial killer. Everything else took a back seat. He had complimented her on the outfit she’d chosen to wear for her first day on the job. When she’d seen him checking her out before they left the ranch, it had boosted her confidence.
When he’d dropped her off for work, he had kissed her—and it hadn’t been a little peck on the cheek. He had slid his tongue between her lips and mated hungrily with hers as if he needed her taste to get him through the day. It had been some kiss, and her lips were still tender just thinking about it.
By the time she had filled out her personnel paperwork, toured HPD headquarters and familiarized herself with the police computer system, it was half past eleven.
“Welcome to HPD.”
Kenna glanced up and saw three police officers standing in the doorway of her office. The two men and one woman had friendly smiles. “Thanks.”
“I’m Lynette Cummings,” the woman officer said, extending her hand. “And this is my partner, soon-to-be detective Steven Byrd, and Officer Shaun Woodson.” They exchanged handshakes.
“We wanted to welcome you sooner, but things have been a little crazy lately with the serial killer,” Lynette said. “And to think I was complaining a few weeks ago that things were pretty boring around here. I never expected anything like this, especially in Houston.”
Kenna nodded. “Any leads?”
“No. Whoever this guy is, he’s careful not to leave as much as a fingernail. I’m told the crime lab combed every inch of the locations where the women were found, but didn’t come across anything,” Steven added in frustration.
“There was a news brief earlier today, and a hotline has been set up for tips—an abandoned vehicle, anyone acting strange, conversations they might have overheard—just about anything that might lead to a suspect,” Officer Shaun Woodson added. “A two hundred-fifty thousand dollar reward has been set up, and for that kind of money people will turn in their own mother.”
The police needed leads. And with the right incentive, the community would be more careful and would be more aware of people and their surroundings.
“We’re headed to lunch. Do you want to join us?” Lynette asked. “You’ll probably be working closely with police officers, and we thought we could introduce you around.”
“Thanks. I’d like that. Let me grab my purse.” Kenna knew she was the new kid on the block and appreciated the offer. She had worked in a precinct long enough to know that more often than not new employees had a hard time being accepted right away. She appreciated the officers including her in the mix on her first day.
They went to a nearby diner called Rowdy’s that seemed to be a favorite HPD hangout, judging by the number of officers that were eating there. They introduced Kenna to Flo Walker, the owner of Rowdy’s, and her staff. According to Shaun, Flo’s personality depended on which day of the week it was. Wednesdays were not good days to cross her. If the waitress got your order wrong that day, it was better to just roll with the flow. Despite Flo’s temperament, the woman served the best breakfast in downtown Houston, and the diner was usually standing room only for lunch, which is why they always arrived early to make sure they got a seat.
Over lunch Kenna soon discovered that the trio was a talkative bunch. Lynette was a twenty-seven-year-old divorcée with a little girl name Aleena. Steven was thirty-two, married and the father of two little boys; and thirty-one-year-old Shaun had been a police officer in another state until six months ago. He was single and obviously on the prowl. It didn’t take long to figure that out once she noticed him checking her out every chance he got. He was a shameless flirt and there was nothing subtle about him.
They told her about the police athletic league that worked to get kids off the street and into sports and activities at the local community centers, and about the police officers’ bowling league.
“So you really don’t know how to bowl?” Shaun asked, smiling.
She had to admit he was a cutie, but not the rugged, sexy heartthrob that Reese was. She smiled. “No, I’ve never gone bowling before.”
“Then I need to make sure I teach you,” Shaun responded.
“Please take off your player game face, Shaun,” Lynette said, shaking her head. “For all you know, Kenna might have a boyfriend.”
Shaun looked at Kenna curiously. “Do you? Are you involved with someone?”
Kenna wasn’t sure how to answer the question. Would Reese fall in the category of boyfriend? Was she seriously involved with him? In the past she’d never slept with anyone she wasn’t seriously involved with. She always applied the 180-day rule. If she and a guy made it past six months, then she considered it somewhat serious. Only Terrence and Lamont had made the cutoff. Curtis had been a couple of weeks shy—thank goodness.
She l
ooked up from her tea and discovered three pairs of eyes watching her, awaiting her response. She cleared her throat and gave the only answer she could. “No, I’m not seriously involved with anyone.”
Inwardly she winced in light of her and Reese’s lovemaking last night and well into the morning. If that wasn’t seriously involved, then what was? She would leave it up to him to define their relationship, she thought. She wouldn’t assume that their bond was more than it really was.
Reese had said that they were moving from best friends to lovers. But she wasn’t sure how she felt about that, especially since it would be her heart that was on the line. Last night was last night, but she had no idea what to expect in the future. They were friends. But depending on who you asked, everyone had a different opinion about this friends-to-lovers thing. Some said it was better to leave well enough alone, and going from friends to lovers was the worst mistake anyone could make. Others believed that best friends made the best lovers. Reese had certainly proven that was true. Still, she wasn’t quite sure. He’d seen her at her best and her worst. He knew all of her secrets and she felt more comfortable with him than with any other man on earth. And she loved him.
She drew in a deep breath. When Reese picked her up after work, she decided she would mention Shaun’s question and see what he thought about her answer.
“Well, Shaun,” Lynette said, “I guess that means you’re still in the game. Had you struck out I would have encouraged you to turn your attention to that blond waitress over there. She’s been watching you since Flo hired her a few months ago. I think she likes you.”
Shaun glanced over at the woman in question and rolled his eyes. “Not my type.”
“Funny, I thought all women were your type,” Lynette said.
“What can I say? Women just like me,” Shaun said, in a cocky way. “It’s the uniform.”
“Is that why you wear your uniform just about everywhere—even to church?” Steven said, laughing.
Shaun frowned. “You know why I wear my uniform to church—because I help direct traffic.”
Lynette leaned back in her chair and rolled her eyes. “You direct the ladies more than traffic. I heard quite a few of them manage to get your number on Sunday morning.”
Kenna watched in amusement as Shaun sat up straight. “Who told you that?”
“Does it matter?” Lynette countered. “You have no shame hitting on churchgoing sisters.”
Shaun eased back in his chair as a smile spread across his lips. “No.”
“I figured you didn’t,” Lynette said in a testy voice. Shaun apparently didn’t pick up on her tone.
As Kenna bit into her sandwich, she recognized as an expert in trying to hide her feelings, that there was more happening between Lynette and Shaun than they let on. Although Lynette tried to hide it, Kenna believed if given the opportunity, Lynette wouldn’t hesitate to get involved with Shaun herself.
“So how are things going, Reese?”
He glanced up from his menu to look at the two men—Trevor Grant and Trask Maxwell—who had stopped at his table. Both were close friends of his older cousins Justin, Dex and Clayton. And Trask was married to Reese’s cousin Felicia. What’s more, Reese had taken Trevor’s old job as foreman with Madaris Explorations after Trevor became CEO of his own company.
“Things are going fine,” he said, smiling. “Have a seat and join me. What are the two of you doing in downtown Houston?” he asked. The men sat down.
“I was at the courthouse on business and ran into Trask coming out of the television station after his interview,” said Trevor. A well-known former football player for several NFL teams, Trask was pretty popular in Houston, appearing on several sports talk shows and promoting his charity work.
“The interview was cancelled,” Trask said, “preempted by the news conference with the mayor and police chief. I hope they catch this guy and get him off the streets fast. That’s the last thing we need.”
Reese nodded. “At least women are aware that there’s a serial killer, and hopefully they’re being cautious.”
“Yes, but the police aren’t moving fast enough,” Trevor said angrily. “You heard what he did to his latest victims, especially that young girl who was found before dawn this morning.”
“Maybe we should get Sir Drake involved,” Trask said teasingly.
Getting Drake Warren involved in any case was serious, Reese thought. Sir Drake, as he was affectionately nicknamed, was an ex-Marine, ex-CIA agent and modern-day ass-kicker. He was a black Rambo if ever there was one. No one—not even a serial killer—would want to cross his path.
The waitress came back and dropped off two more menus. Reese studied the two men while they decided what to order. Both were now happily married, but Reese knew that neither of their wives had liked them very much in the beginning. It was just the opposite with him and Kenna. They’d always gotten along, and after last night he figured it would get even better in the days to come.
“So how are things with Kenna working out?” Trask asked, as if he’d been reading Reese’s mind. “This is her first day at her new job, right?”
Reese took a sip of his soda. “Yes, and we figured it would probably be hectic with everything that’s going on. Since I’m working in town this week, we drove in together.”
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt,” a woman said as she stood next to their table. “Aren’t you Reese Madaris?”
A muscle twitched in Reese’s jaw. “And if I am?”
The woman seemed taken aback at Reese’s unexpectedly chilly response. She quickly regained her composure, and batted her long eyelashes at him. “If you are then I’d like to get to know you.”
He stared at her. She was blatantly hitting on him in front of Trask and Trevor, and from the expressions on their faces they were finding the entire exchange rather amusing.
“Wrong place and wrong time, miss. Sorry,” he said.
Her smile widened. “I’m not. Here’s my number. Give me a call when it’s the right place and the right time.” She strolled away, swaying her hips in a way that had every man in the place staring in her wake. Reese shook his head and looked at Trevor and Trask to find them looking at him curiously. “What?” he asked.
Trevor chuckled. “Must be hard filling Blade’s shoes.”
Reese rolled his eyes. “It’s not something I’m trying to do, trust me.”
Trask lifted a brow. “You sure?”
Reese met his curious gaze. “Positive.”
He scanned the area as adrenaline pumped through his veins. He hadn’t meant to kill again so soon, but the girl last night was an invitation he couldn’t resist. She had practically asked for it, walking home late at night by herself.
She’d refused his offer of a ride and then tried to get away from him. She had been fast, but he’d been faster. In the end, her mouth had gotten her into trouble. Even when he had managed to handcuff her, she had cursed him, telling him what her big brother would do to him when he got ahold of him. He had merely laughed and figured she would learn her lesson.
That was his goal, to teach them all a lesson and then punish them the way he’d been punished. That was all it took—one shoe. All he had to do was close his eyes and remember the pain one shoe could cause. He remembered how his mother would beat him with the heel of her shoe whenever her dates went sour—just one shoe.
He snapped his eyes open. He’d heard the news report. They were looking for him, hoping he’d slip up. He had no intention of doing that. But he had no intention of stopping his killing spree.
He liked this town and decided he would hang around awhile. He chuckled. Things were about to get even more interesting.
Chapter 18
“How was your first day?” Reese asked when Kenna got into his SUV.
After buckling her seat belt, she turned toward him and smiled. “Busy. My boss barely had time to show me around before he had to go downstairs for the news conference. Later he gave me a tour, in
troduced me to a lot of the people I’ll be working with and I even tagged along to an interview of a purse-snatching victim. She was such a sweet old lady that she reminded me a lot of your great-grandmother.”
Kenna chuckled. “He still managed to get her purse, even though she clobbered him a few times with her cane.”
“Did she give a good description of the guy?” Reese asked.
She smiled. “Yes. And the detectives are pretty sure they know who he is. He’s a habitual thief who preys on the elderly.”
For a moment she didn’t say anything. “I went to lunch today with three of the officers—Lynette, Steven and Shaun. They were a lot of fun. Shaun was a riot. He flirted with me through most of my meal. He even asked if I was seriously involved with someone.”
Kenna studied Reese. She saw how his shoulder muscles tensed. He glanced over at her when the car stopped at a traffic light. “And what did you tell him?”
She decided to turn the question back on him. “What was I supposed to tell him?”
He held her gaze. “That yes, you are seriously involved with someone.”
“Am I?” she asked in a low voice.
Instead of answering her, he pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant and turned off the engine. He unsnapped his seat belt and reached over and unbuckled hers. Without saying a word, he cupped her face, leaned closer and captured her mouth with his.
Reese had meant for it to be a gentle kiss, but the moment his tongue eased inside her mouth, his emotions kicked in and he couldn’t stop his tongue from tangling with hers, stroking and sliding everywhere. For a moment he forgot they were sitting in the parking lot of Hunter’s BBQ, one of his grandfather and grand-uncle’s favorite eating places. The only thing he could think about was just how good she tasted.
He resented the car’s confinement. He wished he could have waited until they’d gotten home to his ranch. But when she’d mentioned a guy had flirted with her and she wasn’t quite sure of their status, he’d decided to take action then and there. She’d asked about the nature of their relationship, and instead of wasting words he’d decided to show her.
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