“What happened?”
“A lot happened. I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Fine.” Ellie closed the door behind her with a sigh. “Why should I be curious if you show up at my door at, what, three in the morning? Not like there’s anything unusual about it.”
“Ellie, please.”
She studied her unexpected guest, wondering where to go from here. “Will you talk about it in the morning?”
“This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t drag you into this. I just didn’t know…” Jordan turned away, her posture unmistakable. Ellie embraced her from behind, holding on tight. While she had no idea what was going on, she could make an educated guess, and it seemed Jordan was barely holding it together. Someone had to.
“I’m right in the middle of it already,” she whispered. “For once, don’t run away. We’ll figure it out.”
“I never even asked you how you are doing. I’m so sorry. Now we know that it’s the same guy…”
“We’ll deal with it,” Ellie said firmly. “As long as you are the only person showing up here in the middle of the night, I’m okay. You’ll be too.” She wasn’t sure if Jordan believed her, but damn it, she’d keep on trying.
* * * *
Ellie had indulged her far beyond any obligation. Truth be told, Ellie wasn’t obliged to her in any way. The best Jordan could do for her was to avoid letting the complications in her own life spill over into Ellie’s, but apparently, it was too late for that. She might have been shocked and confused about the outcome of her conversation with Bethany, but she knew, in the long run, that it had to come to this. A few hours of sleep had done wonders to clear her mind, and with Ellie snuggled against her, her body still sleep warm, the temptation was too great. She was half awake when Jordan first kissed her, but when the sheet slipped to the floor, and her panties a moment later, she had Ellie’s attention.
“What are you trying to do?” she asked, amused and breathless at the same time, as if it wasn’t obvious.
“Thanking you for your hospitality,” Jordan said, tracing the shape of her breast, then brushing her thumb over a nipple that perked under the touch. “Apologizing for leaving you hanging yesterday.” Her hand moved lower, between Ellie’s thighs. Ellie shivered, her skin warm and slick under Jordan’s questing fingers.
“That might…work.”
“Good.” If being pressed, Jordan would have admitted she had ulterior motives that went beyond desire, like her need to restore some sort of balance. Last night, she’d needed to cry, to be held by someone who wouldn’t ridicule her. It was no easy realization. She needed to present a more capable self. Well, even Bethany had admitted she was good at this—and this was the last thought she wanted to direct at her.
Ellie made it easy, trembling and moaning at the touch of Jordan’s tongue against her sex, caressing, exploring. Jordan paused, looking up at her. “That means you’ll forgive me?” she concluded, content with her progress.
“If you make it before the alarm…”
Jordan would never step away from a challenge.
* * * **
“I might have a surprise for you later,” she said when they were having breakfast. Ellie’s face lit up with a smile.
“Another one?”
“Why not?”
“I’m intrigued,” Ellie said, pouring milk into her coffee. “In all seriousness though…How much longer do you think Sergeant Bristol will let me stay on the task force when the progress is this slow? We know the killer is taking something from the scene, something that is or was of value to the victim. There’s nothing connecting the bracelet with those coins, unless they would turn up on an auction website somewhere. I wanted to cross check with the chat users, see if something comes up in their profile.”
“Good idea. As for your question, I don’t know, but I want to widen the search. Maybe have another couple of officers on it. Go back to the All Colors, and Bethany…She needs to get more specific on the profile. It’s not only your place on the task force that’s up for discussion if we don’t find Judy anytime soon.”
“You think she’s still alive?” Ellie asked, her gaze dark and somber.
“God, I hope so.” Jordan didn’t share that her hopes weren’t all unselfish. She wanted the woman to escape the hell she was probably living in right now, but she also needed her to be alive and safe, because for once, Jordan needed to win. She cast a look at the clock on the wall, suppressing a curse. She hoped Derek didn’t have a run in with an irate Bethany. In spite of her recent declarations, Jordan had dragged more people into the chaos that was her love life than necessary. All of this would be over soon.
Thinking of the unexpected turn of last night’s event, she shuddered. She’d been lucky the night bus even got as far as it did, the ride making her feel like a teenager sneaking out of her parents’ house. None of this bullshit anymore. She’d own a house soon.
“Yeah, me too,” Ellie said. “If we leave right now, we might be able to get in before everyone else.”
“I’m sorry, I have an appointment this morning. Would you mind if I leave after you and just close the door behind me?”
“Sure, no problem.” Ellie went to get her jacket and purse. She stood in the doorway for a moment, regarding Jordan with concern. “Is everything really okay? I understand talking is not high on your list, but you know, if you want to, I’ll listen.” Jordan got up to step into her embrace.
“I know. Thank you. I have something to take care of, but don’t worry. I promise I’ll tell you everything.”
“Okay then. I guess I’ll see you at work?”
“Yeah. This won’t take long.”
After Ellie had left, she picked up her cell phone. Hopefully, Bethany would have calmed down enough to let her move. Jordan wondered if she should give Darby a piece of her mind for making her life harder than it had to be with that message, but decided to ignore it. After this deal, she’d never have to see him again.
He picked up after the first ring. “Good morning, Detective,” he said cheerfully. “I was just about to call you. Good news. She accepted your offer. You’re now a home owner. Would you like me to pick you up, or do you prefer to come by for the car later tonight?”
Oh, the damn car. She’d been so enthusiastic about her little secret she’d been drinking with her realtor. Inconvenient didn’t even begin to describe it.
“If it’s possible, I’d like to go now. Things didn’t go quite as planned, and I need my car.”
“No problem. Where are you now?” After yesterday’s small incident, Jordan wasn’t entirely comfortable sharing Ellie’s address, so she named a hotel a couple of blocks away. She might even check in tonight, because after their last fight, she couldn’t imagine spending another moment in the same apartment with Bethany.
Jordan had enough overtime accumulated to go in a bit later, but hated to do so while this case was wide open. She consoled herself with the notion that everything would get better after this day.
Bethany was a professional. She’d refrain from further physical expression of her anger until after work. Maybe she had, like Jordan, gotten tired of fighting.
* * * *
Ellie had suspected the workday wouldn’t be entirely peaceful, but after last night—and this morning—she was more than willing to deal with the consequences. Sure, Jordan had issues. It was hardly anything Ellie could complain about when she had been so ready to come between two people in a relationship. A highly dysfunctional relationship, true, but she hadn’t known that in the beginning. A good night’s sleep was still rare for her, and her thoughts kept revolving around the case and the missing woman’s fate just the same.
They might have a shot at getting it right, on the job and in their tentative relationship.
She tried her best to stay away from Bethany though the profiler had adopted a polite mask and a tone that didn’t reveal any of the trouble at home. Ellie wasn’t sure if she could bring herself to feel sorry for her.
She hadn’t heard the whole story yet, but somehow she assumed it wouldn’t be pretty.
As earlier discussed with Jordan, she began some deeper checks on the chat room users, and places where people interested in Judy Lawrence’s hobby might be found. Jewelry. Coins. Isabel Hayes’s only connection to the case was with Lori Gleason. She had no known relatives in the area. Ellie got up to study the map once more. The owner of the All Colors had been questioned as well. According to his statement, he had no knowledge of the dealings going on in his club. He had bought it less than six months ago after the building had been empty for almost a year. In the file, she found the name of the agency that had represented the previous owner, wondering why it sounded familiar.
It came back to her in a heartbeat. She remembered something Judy Lawrence’s sister had told her. Meg had picked up some papers from the coffee table when Ellie had been at her house. “I don’t think she even looked at those, and now we don’t know if she ever needs them,” she’d said, tossing aside some flyers from the same realtor. Was it anything more but a coincidence? Judy had never met with the agency, and Meg would have hardly shared her frustrations about her sister with an employee, or would she?
Jordan hadn’t made it to the department yet, but Ellie was sure she would want to know about it. She didn’t manage to make the call.
“Officer Harding?” When she saw Bristol and Dr. Roberts standing in front of her desk, Ellie knew that the consequences of her actions, or Jordan’s, had begun.
“Dr. Roberts tells me there’s no need for this many people on the task force. I can’t say I share the sentiment, but there’s been a mass accident on Brook’s. I want you to assist Robbins and McCarthy there.”
“Is that necessary?” she asked, aware of Bethany’s triumphant look on her. “I might have something—”
“Harding, if it wasn’t necessary, I wouldn’t ask you.”
Ellie refrained from any further protest. Bristol hardly raised his voice, and when he did, he meant it. “No problem, sir.”
“Good luck on your detective exam next year,” Bethany said pleasantly. “I don’t assume we’ll meet again.”
Ellie didn’t bother to reply, and left for her new assignment. Don’t worry about me, I’ve had lots of good luck lately.
She called Jordan’s cell phone in the squad car, but only reached her voicemail. “Hey. I’ve been sent to the accident on Brooks, but I think I found something that we should look into. The agency Meg wanted Judy to see about a new apartment—it’s the same that sold the All Colors earlier this year. Okay. I think I’ll see you later.”
The thought filled her with excitement that was a lot stronger than her disappointment over being reassigned.
* * * *
Darby had parked across from the hotel. “Finalizing a contract is always so much more than selling a building. It’s a whole different life for most of my clients. I love that,” he confessed after Jordan climbed into the passenger seat. To her relief, he didn’t mention the call or the kiss. Maybe he’d left that strange message because he’d had more whiskey after her visit, not that alcohol was an excuse for ignoring the facts.
“I imagine it’s rewarding,” she offered vaguely.
“It truly is. Now let’s go get your car. When do you think you’ll move in?”
“Oh, I don’t know, today? I kind of got thrown out.”
He winced. “It was that urgent, huh? That’s why you stayed t the hotel? I’m sorry to hear that. May I ask…”
Jordan shook her head. “Look, I appreciate your concern, but thanks to you, everything will be just fine. I won’t be out on the streets until I close on the house either.”
“Oh, come on,” he said, chuckling. “Give me some credit. I didn’t think a woman like you would have to spend a night out on the streets.”
It was a somewhat dubious, backhanded compliment, so Jordan preferred not to answer to it. They drove in silence for a few minutes, before he spoke. “I’m really sorry, going at this the wrong way. You said you’re not ready. I respect that. I just want to help. Please let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Sure,” she mumbled. I’m pretty sure I also came out to you, so don’t sound so hopeful…
“How are you going to celebrate getting into your new home?”
With blessed silence…She had promised Ellie though. If there was any time at all, she’d show her the outside of the house later. “I’m not sure there’ll be much time for celebrating.”
He nodded gravely. “It must be hard to be on the job at times like this, with time ticking away and there’s nothing you can do.”
“Oh, believe me, we are doing everything we possibly can,” she returned, more defensive than she’d intended.
“Maybe you should take some time off, relax, and come back with a fresh perspective. I believe you’re not the only one responsible for the outcome of the case. Am I right?”
Jordan stared straight ahead, relieved when finally Darby’s residence came into view. “I’d rather not talk about it,” she said.
“Okay.” He parked the car next to hers, regarding her for a moment. “There’s some info material I’d like to give you, contractors and designers we work with. I know you said you didn’t want to make big changes at the moment, but maybe you’d like to do some updates once you feel more at home there. If you mention my name, they’ll give you a good price.”
“I don’t have a lot of time. I really need to get back to work.”
“This won’t take long,” he promised. “I have all of this in my office. I usually give a little package to clients, so they remember me.” He winked.
“Oh well. It can’t harm.”
“Exactly. Come on in.”
Jordan waited for him in the den, uncomfortably reminded of the previous night. Fortunately, after receiving the promo material, she wouldn’t have to see Jonathan Darby again. She wondered if he habitually crossed lines with his clients. Jordan felt restless, eager to get the day going. Checking her messages, she realized Ellie had tried to reach her. She frowned at the first part of the voicemail. Certainly a lot of cops were working on that accident scene today, but there was hardly a reason to single out Ellie. Jordan could imagine whose doing this was. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with the second, except…the vague connection to Judy. That was new.
Darby was taking his sweet time too. She walked the length of the tall bookshelves, holding leather-bound volumes, history, politics, architecture and more. Some figurines, glass, stone, female forms. She remembered the first time she’d walked into Darby’s office in town, and the woman who had greeted her. Did he have more employees than that? Were they, or was he a little too interested in the private stories of his clients?
The All Colors. Judy Lawrence. Darby and his agency had been briefly on the radar of the investigators, but at that time, his connection had only been vague. They had concluded that Lori had only been held a short time in the couple’s basement, the people who had used Darby’s agency to find their dream home—one, as it turned out, that came with a starving, scared-to-death prisoner.
She jumped a bit when she saw him standing in the doorway, holding a colorful folder with his logo.
“You like those sculptures? They are very old,” he revealed. “Medevial markets and fairs are my guilty pleasure. Of course, the architecture was fascinating too. A period that often isn’t valued enough, in my opinion.”
Jordan mostly associated the Middle Ages with the idea of witch trials. Maybe Ellie was really on to something. Meg had said the missing coins were Medieval.
“I’m not an expert, but these look old to me. So you find like-minded folks at those fairs, huh? You can sell or buy stuff, jewelry and other collectables?”
“Sometimes.”
“Before I go…I was just wondering, does the name Meg Lawrence mean anything to you? I believe she once contacted you to make an appointment for her sister.”
“True, but Judy never came.”
/>
“Oh…all right, that’s all then. Thanks again. I better get going.” Somewhere in the house, a phone rang, and he held out the papers to her.
“I’m afraid I have to take this. It was a pleasure working with you, Jordan. Enjoy your new home.”
“Thanks. I can find my way out.”
“Great,” Darby said before he headed for his office once more.
In the hallway, Jordan opened and closed the front door, waited until the footsteps retreated and another door fell shut in the house. Jonathan Darby might just be what he let on, a talented realtor with a knack for the Middle Ages and an awkward flirt. If that was the case, he might forgive her, and no harm would be done.
If not…She was going to find out.
Chapter Eleven
From the moment Ellie arrived at the accident scene, she didn’t have time to worry about the fact she still hadn’t been able to reach Jordan, or what other ideas Bethany might have regarding her assignments.
A jackknifed 18-wheeler was blocking two lanes, and had caused a pile-up, involving at least twenty other vehicles from what Ellie could see. Ambulances had already left with the injured, but the massive traffic jam would last much longer.
She spent a lot of time trying to calm both worried and irate drivers who were stuck in the middle of it. A family of five was trying to get home, the children disappointed, because they had to cut their afternoon activities short. The oldest, a girl of about ten, stared at Ellie in fascination.
“Are you a real policewoman?” she asked, in awe.
“I swear. See my badge here?”
The girl’s eyes grew wide. “Can I touch your gun?”
“No, you cannot.” Ellie quickly changed the subject. “I’m sorry you don’t get to go to the pool today, but it’s really important the streets are all clean before everyone moves on.” She got a grateful smile from the mother. The parents had obviously been less successful in trying to explain the circumstances.
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