They stared at him.
“But you need…”
He cut them off. “It’s your wedding day. Go celebrate. We’re going to head back to work.”
They walked toward the door. “Enjoy your new home.”
With that, they were gone.
Tessa just stood there staring at the large space. “I can’t believe any of this. I’m married and we got a new place all in an hour.”
Paris laughed. “This is crazy.”
Tessa headed toward the kitchen. “There’s a note.”
“Read it, Tessie.”
‘The fridge is stocked, there’s champagne chilling in the ice bucket in your bedroom. Go celebrate. Take pictures and have fun.’
Tessa didn't get it. “I hope they didn't mean of the wedding night,” she teased.
He patted his lap. “I say we christen the place. Want to go check out our bedroom?”
Tessa was down with that.
Hell.
She’d check out the backseat of their car if he asked. All she wanted was to get naked with the man of her dreams, and Doctor Paris Archer was that man.
As she sat, he wheeled them through the living room, down the hall, and to the door. He didn't have to maneuver around anything.
It was so damn easy that he couldn’t help but smile.
Once the door was open, they headed into their bedroom, and true to the Croft’s words, it was all their things, and everything was set up the way it was back at their house.
“Wow, look at that view,” Tessa said, popping the cork on the champagne bottle.
Paris found all the candles and rose petals sweet. He was blessed with a good woman and a really good friend.
Then he saw it.
“Tessa?”
She came back in from the balcony with two flutes of champagne. “Yes?”
“Remember how you thought I was named for Paris France?”
She laughed. “I didn't expect it to be Paris Texas, but yes. Why?”
“You said you wanted to see it one day.”
“I still do.”
He handed her two tickets.
“What the hell?”
Then he handed her the note. “I think I know what they wanted pictures of, baby.”
‘Enjoy your honeymoon. Don’t get fat. You have qualifying next month.
~G.C.’
Tessa just stared at him. “You have to be freaking kidding me. We got a million dollar condo and an all-expense paid trip to France?”
He started laughing. “Drink fast. We leave tonight.”
Chapter Nineteen
Terrace Glen
Back at the house, they decided it was time to get to work. Curtis was sitting on the couch working on the trace that was still coming in, as he tried to isolate something they could use.
Mace was laying out the crime scenes for them to study. “We have to be missing something,” he stated.
Emma agreed. As she was about to comment, Dimitri and Katerina walked in.
“Morning.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Croft.”
Yeah, that wasn’t going to work. “Again, I’d like for you to call me Emma. You saved my life. It’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you,” Dimitri said. “Are you working on your case?”
“Yeah, we are.”
Magda brought them both a cup of coffee.
“Would you like my input?” he asked.
They all looked at him like he was crazy.
“I’ve seen a few crime scenes,” he stated, but before he could say more, Croft stopped him.
“Cops in the room. Censor whatever is going to come out of your mouth next.”
He laughed. “I mean, I happen to know about things like this. That’s all I’m saying.” Then he realized there were people missing. “Where’s the rest of the team?”
“They got married today, so we’re running without one agent and one profiler.”
He took a seat beside Mace and stared at the pictures. Katerina sat beside Curtis. She wanted to see if he would get worked up, and he was.
“He knows them.”
Emma glanced up. “What do you mean?”
“If I were a killer. IF,” he reiterated, “and I was taking a life, I’d want to cover their face too.”
They listened.
“He’s ashamed of what he’s doing. I once knew a man who wiped out his whole family. He did the same thing not so they wouldn’t see him, but so he didn't have to look into their eyes. They are the windows to the soul.”
Greyson glanced over. “Okay. What else?” Sometimes it helped to get a different perspective, and there was no one in that room who believed that Dimitri wasn’t the man he was talking about.
“Look at the progression. He’s obviously crazy, but it’s like one of those flip books. You know the ones where there is one picture on each page, but as you quickly turn the pages, they move.”
Emma got it.
“You think he’s playing out one murder, not escalating.”
He shrugged. “Possibly.”
They all needed to let that sink in.
“Well, what’s next?” Mace asked.
Emma glanced over at Curtis. “We have to head out to do some interviews. Can you do a search on any other murders that fit these criteria?”
“Can do.”
“I’ll be joining you,” Dimitri said. “Katerina will remain here.”
Croft was okay with that. More eyes on Emma the better. Besides, he was a killer. Who better to track down one?
“Sure thing,” Katerina stated. “I’m very good with a computer. I can help Mr. Briggs.”
That was good enough for them.
“Mace, are you coming?”
He glanced at his watch. “Can you two handle the interviews? I’m going to swing by the lab and see if I can get Max to hurry up.”
“Good idea. Tell him I need the trace by tomorrow morning at the latest or his ass is in a giant sling.”
“Can do,” Mace offered as he chugged the last of his coffee before Magda took his mug away. He really needed this kind of life. A housekeeper would make his life easier.
Yeah, if he wasn’t a poor, child support paying cop.
“Curtis, if you find anything, let me know,” Greyson stated. He couldn’t help but notice the man was flushing red, and the only reason could be the woman beside him.
“Sure thing.”
“Contact Steele and tell him to transmit anything he finds while he’s helping out.”
“Okay.”
Emma went to say something, but Greyson shut her up with a kiss. When he pulled away, he whispered, “Behave.”
She winked.
“Let me grab my gun,” she stated.
“Body armor,” Dimitri shouted after her. “You too, Greyson.”
Normally, he’d complain, but he was in a good mood. Why ruin the day with a shooting?
When she came back, she looked rattled.
“What’s wrong?” Greyson asked.
“Did you see what followed us back from Sky Villa?” she asked. “There’s a crowd of reporters waiting out there for us.”
Greyson rubbed his hands together.
Emma went on alert. “This is why I’m worried. I know what you’re going to do.”
Dimitri stared at him. “What’s he going to do?”
Emma followed her husband to the garage. “One of these days, he’s going to kill someone.”
When the gate opened, they heard the revving of an engine. If they had any common sense, they’d run for their lives. Emma sat in the back of Greyson’s car with her eyes closed.
“Dimitri, it’s been nice knowing you,” she said.
He was grinning.
“There’s one standing there like he’s not afraid,” the man said, egging Croft on. “He’s ballsy.”
Greyson saw him.
It was the pain in the ass reporter that was stalking his wife and getting leads from killers.
Well, he had a plan for him.
Emma opened her eyes. Lewis Reynolds was standing there sipping his coffee. He was directly in the middle of the gate, and didn't look like he planned on moving.
“Chicken it is,” Croft stated.
He revved the engine once more, and as his hand went to the gear shift, Emma began praying. He popped it in gear and went tearing toward the man.
All the other reporters ran to the grass flanking the security fence, but that man.
Greyson floored it, heading right toward him. At the last second, the man looked left and right, but didn't move.
Croft had one choice.
He slammed on the breaks.
His car slid to a stop inches from the man’s legs.
“Director Croft! I’d like an interview before I release the footage of Detective Croft falling off the roof!”
Greyson’s hand shook. “I’ll kill him,” he stated, getting ready to get out of the car. “He’s not publishing my wife hanging by a fucking noose.”
Dimitri touched his arm. “Allow me.”
The man got out of the passenger side of the vehicle and headed his way.
“Do you realize that this is private property?” he asked, pointing at the sign stating no trespassing. “By law, you can’t be this close to the gate.”
“I need an interview, and I’ll be leaving.”
“What do you have?” he asked.
“Who are you?”
“I'm the head of their security. Show me what you have, and I’ll see if they’ll do the interview.”
He held out his phone and pushed play.
Dimitri could see the reverse angle of everything that happened the night before. “Is this your only copy?” he asked, watching Emma dangling by her neck from the side of the museum.
“Yes.”
He hit delete.
“Jesus! What did you just do?” Lewis demanded. “That was my lead in for today!”
He shrugged. “May I suggest you do some interviews on people not spaying or neutering their pets? You might be better at it.”
As he turned to leave, the man grabbed Dimitri’s arm. He moved so fast that he had the reporter by the neck before he knew what was happening.
Lewis Reynolds went to his knees, his eyes getting big. Dimitri squeezed, and he could hear the pictures being snapped behind him.
This wasn’t the time or the place.
“Let this be a warning, Mr. Reynolds. You don’t want to work this beat.”
He lowered his voice more.
“If I see you here, you’re going to get hurt.”
With that, he headed back to the car.
The man crawled out of the way, and all the reporters stared in disbelief. Greyson Croft, a cop, didn't stop the man.
It spoke volumes.
When Dimitri got in, Greyson grinned. “Why didn’t I think about doing that? All this time, I could have just kicked the shit out of him.”
“NO, you could not,” Emma stated.
“Well, the video is gone, and your wife is right. You can’t, but I can. It’s kind of my job.”
Emma shook her head. “You two are going to be trouble.”
Greyson didn't doubt it.
Dimitri Gideon was money well spent.
When they got to the bakery, they found the owner Wade Grosse closing up for the day. It was already afternoon, and he’d let all his employees go.
“What can I do for you?” he asked, as Greyson and Emma walked in. “We’re sold out.”
He glanced back at Dimitri, and immediately the man stood sentry at the door.
“We need to discuss the women who are dying next door, Mr. Grosse.”
He looked confused.
“You wanted that space, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You would do anything to get it, right?” Emma asked, making notes.
“No!”
“Are you sure?”
“Hey! I’m not killing women to get more room! I don’t even know them.”
Emma pulled out her tablet and began flipping through them. She could see by his face that he was lying. He did know them. “Do you work the counter?”
“Yes.”
“You see, my issue is that you’ve had contact with each and every person. You're the only suspect we have that has. So, I’m sure you can see why we think it’s you.”
He swallowed.
Greyson rattled off the dates of the murders.
He didn't have an alibi for any of them.
“We need a DNA sample,” Emma stated. “If you give us one willingly, we won’t take you in for interview.”
He opened his mouth.
“No, not to me. We’ll have a tech come here.”
The man nodded.
Greyson made the call. Max wasn’t going to be happy, but that was life. They all had to take one for the team when it came to serial killers. No one wanted to work on a Sunday, but in their line of work, this was a possibility.
Emma continued on with her questioning. “Tell me about Lester Pappel.”
The man looked confused. “What about him?”
“Did he have contact with these women?”
He nodded.
“Was he working today?”
He shook his head.
“Did you know you employ a man with two PFAs against women, and violent tendencies?”
“I didn't know! I just hired him to serve coffee and fill the pastry shelves. I didn't think that required a background check.”
“Has he ever had issues with the people coming in here?”
He shook his head. “He takes classes next door, and he’s always inviting people over here for coffee. He’s increased my business tenfold. I didn't realize he was doing anything to the women. You have to believe me!”
Emma thought about it. If he was getting the victims to show up next door, he could watch them without looking like a stalker.
Plus, he also parked in the same location as the victims were being taken.
It looked like Lester was moving up the suspect list.
When Greyson returned, he saw his wife scaring the hell out of the man, and it did his heart good. She may be battered and bruised, but her fighting spirit was still there.
“A tech is on the way.”
Emma was glad. “We’re going to head over to Lester Pappel’s house to see what he’s doing. I want to interview him, and fast. On paper, he’s looking pretty bad.”
He didn't blame her.
“I’ll run next door and see if he took a class today,” he offered.
Emma was grateful. “I’ll watch our friend here.”
When Greyson left, Dimitri came in. He wasn’t going to leave Emma alone with a suspect.
“Would you like some coffee?” Wade offered.
“No thank you.”
While she was waiting, she called Curtis. “Anything on the murder?”
He laughed. “Did you know there were fifty seven murders over the last year by this type of killing?”
She hoped he could work fast.
“How many women?”
“Fifty one.”
“Any in this area?”
“Not a single one, except for our case.”
Well, that sucked.
“Curtis, I need you to work fast. Do you hear me?” she asked. “Go back further if you have to, but find me something.”
“I’m trying,” he said.
“Katerina?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
“Yes.”
“Want us to spring you?”
“No.”
Dimitri was watching her. He’d obviously heard his sister’s name, and from the look on his face, he didn't like the idea that she was alone with the Fed.
Maybe it was a brother thing.
Maybe it was so much more.
“Just keep searching. We’re heading over to Lester Pappel’s place. Can you transmit all we have on him, including an address?”
&nb
sp; “On it.”
When she hung up, Dimitri moved closer. “What’s going on with my sister?”
“Got me. I just wondered if Katerina was still helping Curtis with the searches, and if she found anything.”
He visibly relaxed.
“Oh, okay. She’s a handful. My sister has a way of getting in trouble. I don’t want her to make anything into a mess.”
Emma grinned. Well, if Curtis was any indicator, the woman was already stirring the pot, and it might not be a bad thing.
A mess, yes.
But sometimes they were the best kinds of moments.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
He watched them leave the bakery. He could see the trio asking questions inside both businesses, and he had to laugh.
It was funny that he was watching them as they hunted for him.
It was priceless, in fact.
If they were here, grasping for straws, he’d have to move fast and then stop. He had no choice.
Voices or not, he was going to have to find a way to get in control.
This was his last one, and he knew what that meant.
It was about to get bloody.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Curtis was trying to focus, but it wasn’t easy. Katerina was right beside him, her really long, elegant fingers typing away. Every now and again, she’d toss her hair over her shoulder, and he’d be assaulted with the scent of flowers.
It was intoxicating.
“Find anything?” he asked.
She glanced over, chewing on her lower lip. “No. You?”
He shook his head. “I need a drink. I’ll be right back,” he said, standing from the couch. What he really needed was to get as far away from her as possible.
He hadn’t even buried Brynn yet, and he shouldn’t be thinking with that part of his anatomy.
That’s how he screwed up his life once already.
“Would you like one?” he asked. Then he wanted to glue his lips shut. She stared up at him with aqua eyes, and he again started thinking about stupid things.
“Okay.”
As he headed into the kitchen, she watched him. “Why didn't you just ask Magda?”
He looked confused. “Oh, I’m laid back. I can grab my own drinks. Besides, she’s trying to get things done to get home to her family too.”
Hell Is Burning Page 49