“I’d appreciate it if you’d call me if you think of anything else that might help.” The card disappeared just before the door clicked shut.
“These scones remind me of my housekeeper’s specialty as a child. I’ve never found any anywhere that could rival hers, but these come close.” The delight in Ethan’s eyes made Jerry want to buy out every scone in the place, just for him.
“I’ve never had scones before, but these are good.” Jerry smiled at the expression of pure joy on Ethan’s face.
“That’s a crime, never having had scones.” Ethan placed another one on her plate. The small bakery just around the corner from the condo enticed them inside with the delicious aroma of baked goods, but the quaint atmosphere kept them at a small café table in the corner. Even though the table was adjacent to the front window, a prime location to see and be seen, it felt intimate, as if they were alone in the city, in the bakery, amid the constant stream of sightseers and city dwellers.
“I’d have to agree, these things are a little taste of heaven.” Jerry followed Ethan’s lead and spread strawberry jam onto the soft center of one steaming slice of bread. “But you say your housekeeper makes better?” Jerry’s gave him an incredulous look.
“Hard to believe, but yes, just a bit. She adds something that takes the fluffiness to a whole new level.” He took another bite and audibly sighed. “I’ve tried to bribe the recipe from her, but she’ll have none of it. Tells me that if she gives me the recipe, I’ll never come back to see her.” He grinned.
“So she still works for you, or your family?”
“Yes, where she’ll likely stay, even after she can no longer perform her duties. She is family.” Ethan unabashedly licked the jam from his fingertips. “My parents worked quite a bit when I was young. Ella practically raised me.”
Jerry pushed down the twinge of jealousy before it could flourish. She would’ve been happy with one loving mother; Ethan had two. “Sounds like you love her very much.”
“I do. She’s a second mum.” He smiled at Jerry warmly. “I’ve told you scads about my family. Tell me something about yours.” He invited.
“Not much to tell. I have no living relatives.” Through the years, Jerry had learned to smile when she made that statement to avoid any unwanted sympathy.
“I’m sorry.” Ethan covered her hand with his. “That must be difficult.” He felt Jerry stiffen and decided to back off. “There’s all kinds of family, though. Take Dylan, for example. The way you two go at each other, it feels like you’re brother and sister.”
Jerry laughed, grateful for the new direction of conversation. “It’s a pleasure to give Dylan a hard time, I’m sure he feels the same. We’ve worked some pretty tough cases together, I guess the jibes became an alternative to tension, then they stuck.” Jerry shrugged her shoulders. “No matter how much I like to aggravate him, there’s no one else I’d rather have on my side.”
“Good to know.” Ethan turned to watch the passersby. “I suppose we should get out there, walk around the neighborhood.”
“Good thing, too. I need to walk off these scones.” Jerry began tidying the table.
“You’re perfect, I doubt a hundred scones would change that.” Ethan’s eyes bore into hers for a brief second before his expression became guarded.
“Why thank you, kind sir.” Jerry tried to lighten the tone as they stood to leave. “But if I ate a hundred of those things, I wouldn’t fit through the door, much less all those fancy new clothes hanging in the closet.”
“I’ll get some to go, we’ll test your theory.” Ethan grinned as Jerry poked him in the ribs.
“But who called you? Sonja’s family lives on the east coast and they’re not at all close. What do you think happened to her?” Kim peppered Dylan with questions as she stepped aside to allow him entry to her apartment.
“A neighbor became concerned after seeing a news article about the woman found on the cliffs several days ago. She said that Sonja resembled the lady. I’m sure it’s nothing, but it’s best that we investigate.” Dylan attempted to relax Kim with a smile. The young woman was pacing the floor and wringing her hands.
“What lady? I haven’t watched the news lately. Show me.” Kim demanded.
Dylan scrolled through several screens on his phone before presenting Kim with the image of Jenna, alive and well. The photo was taken from her apartment during the sweep.
“Oh my God, she does look like Sonja. Her hair color is practically identical and her eyes have the same almond shape. What happened to her?”
“This woman was found murdered on the cliffs above Muir woods. We believe she was killed by someone she knew and trusted. Someone she was dating.”
Kim sat down hard on the sofa, as if her feet had suddenly become jelly. “Sonja was dating someone new. It was supposed to be a secret.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Had you ever met him?” Dylan sat across from the obviously distraught woman.
“No. Sonja told me his name was Oscar; apparently he had money and an English accent. They’d only been seeing each other for about two weeks.” She paused and looked up at Dylan. “Sonja’s boyfriend, Randall, is married. He wouldn’t like knowing that Sonja was seeing someone else.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t. What else can you tell me about Oscar?” Dylan’s voice was gentle and not at all judgmental.
“Nothing. Sonja was very closed-mouthed about their relationship. It’s odd really, she tells me everything about Randall. I just thought it was new, you know? And good. That she didn’t want to jinx it.” Kim wrung her hands together repeatedly. “Do you think Oscar hurt her? Is that why you’re here?”
“We just want to find her. I was hoping you could tell me more about her habits, where she liked to go, what she liked to do, other friends that she might have confided in.”
“Sure, that’s easy.” Kim was relieved to be able to help. “Most of the time, Sonja kept to a schedule. Randall liked to know how to find her on a moment’s notice, if you know what I mean.” Kim wrinkled her nose. “Since he’s been out of town and she started seeing Oscar, her schedule went by the wayside.”
“How did she meet Oscar?”
“She met him at a juice bar near her apartment. Kim would go there at least four times each week, after her power walk.”
“When was this?”
“Nearly two weeks ago, right around the time Randall left town. Don’t get me wrong, Sonja was loyal to Randall. I’ve never known her to step out on him before, but Oscar just swept her off her feet.”
“How so?”
“He took her on the town, you know, fancy dinners, nightclubs, all the good stuff that Randall couldn’t do with her. She told me he was very romantic.”
“So she thought they had a future?”
“I think so. At least she hoped they did. Sonja was tired of the lifestyle. She wanted a family. Randall would never offer her anything more than a place to live and a platinum card.”
“I understand.” Dylan flipped open a notebook. “Why don’t you tell me about Sonja’s schedule, start with the name of the juice bar where she met Oscar.”
“If I drink another coffee or eat another pastry I’ll explode.” Jerry hooked her arm through Ethan’s as they strolled past trendy shops selling overpriced must-haves.
“Too much of a good thing?” Ethan smiled down at her, then turned his attention to a particularly fashionable window. “That dress would look smashing on you.” He nodded.
Jerry followed his gaze and nearly sighed with admiration. The emerald green beaded gown shimmered with sparkling crystals in the midday sun. The simple cut, a sweetheart neckline and long, straight skirt would hug her in all the right places.
“It’s beautiful, but I can’t imagine where I’d wear it.” They both stopped to admire the twinkling beauty.
“We’ll find a place, trust me. Let’s go in.” Ethan was pulling her towards the boutique’s door.
“Ethan, no.” Jerry
told him in hushed tones as she pulled back slightly. “My closet is filled already.” She doubted her checking account could handle the purchase and she knew that Nate would never approve it as a business expense.
“Let’s just see how it looks on you,” he coaxed, giving her a killer smile.
When Jerry emerged from the dressing room, Ethan nearly swallowed his tongue. She was a vision; the dress fit her like a glove, emphasizing her small waist, elongating her already slender neck and creating an alluring décolletage that beaconed him to bury his face in her smooth skin.
“Amazing.” Though standing was suddenly difficult, he couldn’t help but go and touch her. Placing both hands on her shoulders, he turned her towards the three-way mirror. “Just look at how lovely you are.”
Her shoulders tingled beneath his touch and his hot breath brought goose bumps to her neck, but it was the hungry look in his eyes that had Jerry’s knees wanting to buckle. She managed to stay upright and heed his request to look at their reflection.
The couple in the mirror was sophisticated, polished and gorgeous. Jerry very nearly did not recognize the woman as herself when she finally pulled her eyes away from Ethan’s.
“The dress is lovely,” she breathed, still in awe of the perfection of their reflection.
“Yes, but it’s you who brings it to life. Simply stunning.” Ethan trailed his hands down her arms, pleased when he heard her breath hitch at his touch.
“I’m not buying it.” Jerry tried to keep her cool, but the feel of his warm fingers and the closeness of his body made it difficult.
“Of course not.” He inched closer until he could smell the light scent of strawberry that drifted up from her hair. They stood there for a long moment, staring into each other’s eyes in the mirror.
“Aren’t you two the ones in the paper?” A nasally voice broke the spell of the moment.
With obvious effort, Ethan let go of Jerry, stepped back and turned towards the intruder. “Our picture was in the newspaper this morning.” He said politely to the short woman holding a purse almost as wide as she was.
“It thought it was you. See Maude, I told you we’d see some celebrities on this street.” She nodded to her friend, barely visible over the clothing display.
“Excuse me,” Jerry made her escape back into the dressing room, leaving Ethan to handle the women’s curiosity.
“So who are you?” The woman continued, unconcerned with the rudeness of her question.
“We’re nobody, just a couple who happen to enjoy the opera. If you ladies will excuse me,” Ethan gave them both a smile before heading over to the cash register, discreetly tucked into the corner of the boutique.
Arrangements to send the dress to their condo were made before Jerry ever exited the dressing room.
During dessert at the third café they’d patronized, Jerry received a text from Nate. Her smile froze in place as she read the cryptic message. It took effort to make it genuine as she raised her face to Ethan and the crowded room.
“Ooh, look honey, the dealer can deliver our painting this afternoon. I’m so excited, can we leave now?” She handed the phone to Ethan.
“Found her. Meet back at your place” was the message that sent a shiver of dread along Ethan’s skin. “Sure sweetie, let’s go.” Handing her the phone, he tossed several bills on the table and stood to take her hand.
The tall, black haired man in the corner watched them leave. He’d been watching them since they came in from his perch behind an oversized palm tree. She was perfect; tall, stunning with the same luscious brown hair as his Beth.
He’d come out today in hopes of running into the new couple, having seen their image plastered on the society section of the newspaper for the past few days. He wondered if she was as lovely in person as the camera suggested. He was not disappointed.
His sweet Sonja had proven to be a disappointment. Watching the life drain from her eyes had not given him the satisfaction he’d anticipated. It was because her Randall left town too soon, he thought, forcing him to move up the seduction timetable before he’d had a chance to adequately get to know her. He’d only been following Sonja a week before Randall left, giving him the opening he needed. He’d rushed the whole thing, not even taking time to find a replacement.
As soon as he’d seen Jerry’s image in the paper, he’d known she was the one. Now that he had found her in person, he was certain. The way she moved her head when she laughed at the supposed Duke reminded him of Beth. When she walked away from the table, her hips swayed with natural provocation, just like Beth’s.
He would take his time with this one, he thought as he took a last sip of coffee. No matter if he had to romance her from underneath Bennett’s nose, he would make this one special. Keeping his eyes on the pair as they waited at the crosswalk, he casually stood and followed them down the street.
Chapter Twelve
“A chopper spotted her on a ledge, miles from nowhere. There are a few hiking trails in the area, but it’s not a very populated spot. Forensics is searching for tire tracks, footprints and anything else on the landing above the cliffs. We could get lucky; it hasn’t rained in a few days, so the freshest ones could be his.” Nate’s image on the monitor looked weary.
“There’s no doubt that it’s Sonja?” Jerry asked.
“No, it’s definitely her. Time of death is roughly forty-six hours ago; she’s remarkably well-preserved for being left in the wild for two days.”
“Same M.O.?” Dylan’s long gait was eating up the hardwoods in front of the window wall.
“Clean slice on her neck, right to left. Tossed her over the cliff like she was a ragdoll. Sucker’s powerful; Sonja was not a petite girl.”
“None of them have been petite. He likes his women tall.” Ethan interjected.
“Did you guys spot anyone fitting his description this morning?” Nate asked.
“Not really. Men with longish black hair are not exactly a phenomenon in this part of the country. San Francisco has its share of hippies. But no one matching the description and also resembling a linebacker wearing designer clothing stood out. And he would.” Jerry left the pacing to Dylan; she’d already done her share of walking for the day. Instead, she and Ethan sat together on the sofa.
“What about you, Dylan, did Kim or the neighbor know anything useful?”
“Actually, yes. The neighbor confirmed the description of the red Mas, but she didn’t offer much else. Kim gave us a list of places that Sonja frequented, said Sonja was a stickler for her schedule, up until Oscar came on the scene. She confirmed what she’d already told Jerry, the guy had money and a British accent. Other than that, she didn’t have many details, Sonja was uncharacteristically private about their relationship.”
“Matches what we already know.” Nate began scribbling something on the pad in front of him. “Dylan, go back to Kim and let her know that we found Sonja. Jerry, call Kim soon afterward to check in. Try to get close to her, be a friend. She may know something more than what she’s told Dylan, even if she doesn’t remember it now. She’s the closest link we’ve got to his latest victim.”
“Will do, Boss.” Dylan and Jerry spoke in unison.
“Ethan, meet me at the drop-kill zone. I’m sending the coordinates and a car. Maybe you’ll notice something similar to his other drop zones.”
“On my way.” Ethan nodded.
“Jerry, watch your back. Just because you didn’t see him this morning doesn’t mean that he didn’t spot you.” Nate’s stern warning filled the room.
“Yes sir.” Jerry gave him a reassuring smile just before the screen went black.
“He’s right. We could have missed him, especially if he was behind us. Neither of us were very observant when we left the café.” Ethan frowned.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll be here until Rodney takes me to Kim’s, assuming I get an invitation.”
“Get an invitation.” Dylan growled and stopped his pacing. Nate’s right, she’s the best li
nk we have to Sonja, at the moment.”
“I know.” Jerry looked up at Dylan. “Get out of here, would ya? The sooner you make notification, the sooner I can do my thing.”
“I’m going.” Dylan tweaked her head as he walked by the couch. “Be careful, princess.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jerry answered.
“Yes, please be careful.” Ethan turned to her as Dylan closed the door. “He could already be watching you.”
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