Dan jumped as his phone went off on his hip. When he checked the caller ID, he noted the time. “It’s nearly ten o’clock, Andi, and you haven’t gotten any of your work done. I’m sorry I held you up so long.”
Andrea smiled. “This was a lot more interesting than the stuff I was planning to do anyway.” Or sitting home alone.
“It really helped to voice all of the questions out loud. We didn’t come up with any answers, but I appreciate your willingness to listen. It sure helped me to get this case planted more firmly in my mind.”
“No problem, Dan. Let me close up the front offices and turn off the lights and we’ll call it a night. I’m glad I could help. Now, you’d better return that call. I’ll be back in a minute,” she said and shut the door to give him privacy and her a moment to collect herself. What was she thinking? She didn’t need to get involved in a relationship right now. The last one had nearly cost her her sanity. A good tumble in the hay would greatly improve her mood though, and she was sure he was quite capable there. Andrea could almost hear Cindi saying, It’s the nineties, girl, loosen up! Ha! As granddaddy used to say, “I’m as tight as a tic on a hound dog’s ear.” Dan Mallory would be a huge challenge in lots of ways. She wasn’t on “The Pill”, didn’t own a single condom, or been naked with a man since—Whoa, girl, you haven’t even dated him or checked him out for security reasons! Slow down, Andi, and be on guard; you don’t know who or what this Avenger chaser is really like when he isn’t charming off your panties!
“Anything important?” Andrea asked upon returning to her office.
“Nah. It was Mory, my partner. He wanted to go to the lake on Saturday and put his boat on the water. I promised to pick up our fishing licenses, so he was checking to make sure I got them. Do you go to the lake much?” Now why had he set himself up with that question? She was obviously distressed with her friend for her matchmaking attempts, even though Andrea had remained polite and even interested in their conversation. She probably didn’t date cops, and he certainly couldn’t blame her for that rule. He wouldn’t date one either. Yet, he hoped he could change her mind.
“Almost every Saturday Cindi and I go to Lake Springs. They have a beach and swimming area there. What do you fish for?”
He would love to reel her in and nibble on her from head to toe. And then sink his rod into her honey—“Bass, usually. Sometimes bream. Do you know how to fish?”
“I haven’t been in a while, but I used to go a lot with my grandfather. He taught me how and took me whenever he could. Cindi isn’t into fishing, so we usually just lay in the sun or ride around on her boyfriend’s boat.”
“Well, I’ll have to remedy that sometime by taking you out with us. How far can you spit?”
“What?”
“How far can you spit? You can’t tell lies about the women you date and you can’t whiz out of the boat, so to fit in with the guys, the only thing you can do is spit. So, what’s your average?” Dan joked.
“I’d say farther than you,” she teased back.
“That sounds like a challenge I can’t ignore. How about Saturday? Mory’s wife is going to sit on the boat and soak up the rays. I’m sure it would be okay if you wanted to come, and us men will be better behaved with two women along.” Dan held his breath as he waited for her reply. His imagination was already picturing her in a bikini and her flesh covered with tanning oil, and he was feeling the resulting heat in his pants.
Andrea decided, what the hell? Why not? He was extremely attractive and seemed nice enough. No major character flaws detected. Plus, she could get involved with the Avenger case and that would certainly add to her resume! It would be fascinating and beneficial to watch this hunk match wits with the Avenger.
Dan mistook her hesitation, thinking she was trying to find a nice way to turn him down. “This is kinda last minute, so if you already have plans, I’ll understand.” He was startled by her reply.
“I’d love to go to the lake with you and your partner. It should be safe enough with his wife there. But only if you go with us on Friday. I’m sure Cindi will be happy to see you again,” Andrea quipped and grinned at him.
“Deal. Friday to the hypnotist and Saturday to the lake. I’ll call you with the details later this week. Would you like to get some dinner tonight, since I kept you out so late?” The words were out before he could stop them. Don’t push, his mind warned.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have to come in early to finish up those notes from this afternoon, and it’s already past my bedtime,” Andrea answered, looking at her watch.
“I should get home, too. I’ve got a lot of reading to do tonight. I’ll call you by Thursday to finalize the plans for Friday and Saturday. What time should we be at the Comedy Theater?”
“The show starts at eight. We usually get there by seven thirty, so we have time to talk before it starts. You can pick me up around seven. Here’s my address and phone number. Or you can call me here. This is usually where I am most of the time.” Andrea quickly wrote down the directions to her condo and her number. Two dates in one weekend was more than she’d had in eight months, probably longer. But it would be safe with Cindi and Brian and the others. If he turned out to be different from what she’d imagined, she could come up with an excuse for Saturday. Somehow, though, she had the feeling this was the start of something good.
“Great. I’ll see you at seven on Friday.” Suddenly the prospect of dating again had him feeling like a schoolboy. He realized he didn’t know anything about her, yet had plans to spend two days this weekend with her. What was he thinking? That was one good thing about being a cop; you could run a few checks on someone and make sure they didn’t have a record anywhere. That was more than Andrea could do, wasn’t it?
Dan waited while Andrea turned off the lights and locked the back door of the offices. He walked her to her car, watched her get in, and drive towards the Expressway. He headed back to his apartment to concentrate on the files.
But a green-eyed beauty kept stealing his thoughts and causing his mind to wander in another direction. He decided not to tell Mory about inviting Andrea to tag along until the last minute, because he didn’t want to face Mory’s good-natured teasing for the next four days. As he stretched out on his bed, he wondered what the weekend would bring. Hopefully not another torture and slaying to conflict with his personal life, now that he finally had one.
Chapter Seven
Friday afternoon, June 29th
The days since Monday had been tiring and frustrating for Dan Mallory. No clues that pointed towards the Avenger’s identity had been uncovered. Talks with defense attorneys who had represented the men had angered him to the point that he was rude to several of them. Mory had been unable to find anything to link James Starr to the crimes, though that didn’t mean there wasn’t one out there which they hadn’t stumbled across so far.
Tonight, however, he had a date with Andrea Arquette. And what an interesting and desirable woman she was! They had spoken on the phone twice this week about angles of his investigation and their upcoming plans. Her sexy voice, sultry laughter and keen intelligence made him realize how much he had missed having someone special in his life or even just a satisfying diversion. Andrea seemed to be a perfect fit. He sensed her uncertainty and felt his own each time they talked, but he was determined not to allow the jitters to ruin their evening.
Since Friday nights were the dates on which the killer had slain his three victims, he would have to tell Mory his whereabouts and take his phone; yet, he hoped the Avenger wouldn’t strike again this evening and interrupt his fun. He also planned to tell his partner and best friend that there would be a fourth on the boat trip tomorrow. Mory would want more details, but he would have to wait until he met Andrea to form his own opinion of her. Mory’s next statement preempted Dan’s rambling thoughts.
“Henri says the DNA results match on the last two victims, so we know it was the same person who murdered those men. I’d bet he was the culpri
t for Ted Silverman, too. LifeCo is checking to see if they can find a match, but they doubt it, unless our Avenger has been tested in the past for some reason and his results are on record. I’ve also checked with all of the medical supply companies and research labs located within a hundred miles, but no one has reported a theft. They’re all going to check on their stock of potassium chloride and get back to us next week. As for our pesky reporter, he seems to be clean so far, but I’ll bet there’s something in his background he doesn’t want us to know about. Do you think the Avenger is going to strike again tonight, since he’s been at it for the last two Fridays?” Mory asked.
“I hope not. So far we don’t have a clue to his identity, unless we luck up with a LifeCo match, which sounds unlikely. Maybe a night off will help me think it through.”
“A night off?” Mory leapt on the hint. “You? What gives, Dan? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“I just thought I’d take a night off from the case and have some fun. Getting away from everything sometimes lets me come back fresh and see an answer that was right before my eyes the entire time.”
“Are you headed out of town, or are we still on for fishing tomorrow?”
“I’ll be at your house at nine in the morning, unless you need me earlier to help with the boat. I’m bringing a guest, if that’s all right with you.”
“A guest? You? Dan, my man, has a date? For tomorrow? Is that what’s going on tonight? Two days in a row? Who is she?” Mory’s curiosity had peaked; the questions popped into his head and out his mouth without allowing Dan time to answer.
“Let’s see. I think that’s a yes, and even I can have one, and yes, and yes, and yes, and the name’s Andi,” Dan responded with a grin.
“Andy? Hey, man, what’s going on here? I thought you meant a real date.”
“Andi is short for Andrea. And believe me, she has no masculine traits that I’ve uncovered so far.”
“So far? What does that mean? How long has this romance, that I’ve been so rudely kept unaware of, been going on?”
“Tonight’s our first date, so nothing has happened yet. Besides, I never kiss and tell. Her name is Andrea Arquette and she’s Raymond Harris’s legal secretary. We met the other afternoon when I went to check out his files. Her best friend is having an outing at the Comedy Theater and she invited me to go. That’s all there is to report at this point, sir. I’ll keep you posted if anything new turns up,” Dan finished with a chuckle.
“No need. I’ll check her out for myself tomorrow. She must be pretty hot if she turned your head during this Avenger case. And don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you. I’ll also warn Janie not to tell too many Dan stories, but that’s about all I can promise.”
“I’m not worried about Janie. If she gets out of hand, I’ll just throw her overboard. Depending on what she says, the boat may be moving.”
Mory laughed with Dan. “Well, you’d better get cleaned up. You don’t want to be late for your first date. Are you taking anything over?”
“Taking what over where?”
“Taking her something? You know, like flowers or candy or wine? Man, you really are out of it when it comes to the romance department.”
Dan told himself not to panic. “What should I take?”
“Depends on the girl. Whatever you decide will be appreciated, I’m sure. Good luck, partner.” And with that, Mory walked out of the office.
Dan sat in his chair for a few minutes before an idea entered his head.
After making a quick stop while en route home, he showered, shaved, and changed clothes. He left immediately to pick up Andrea at her condo, not expecting what greeted him at the door.
Friday night, June 29th
“You look beautiful, Andi,” Dan whispered. The sight of her almost stole his wits. She was wearing a short halter dress. The small flowered print in yellows and golds enhanced the shades of her tan, emerald eyes and blond hair. She had on more makeup than she did at the office, but it was so artfully applied it looked natural. Her hair was curled toward her face again, and it seemed to flow around her head like golden liquid. Dan imagined it would feel like silk if he were to touch it. He couldn’t help but notice the swell of her breasts and his hand ached to slip beneath the thin material and caress them. Without thinking, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. When he retreated, he noticed her cheeks were bright pink.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so forward. But I couldn’t think of anything to say because your beauty struck me speechless. I wanted to show you how much I’m looking forward to spending an evening with you,” Dan explained, though he suspected he was acting like a thirty-eight year old fool. Idiot, you’re not off to a great start impressing her.
“Thank you for the compliments. You look pretty good yourself,” Andrea replied to put him at ease. He was dressed in tan pants and a striped blue, red and white golf shirt with the Masters gold emblem on the chest. It was difficult—no, impossible—not to notice his many assets. She had the feeling that Cindi was going to be very pleased with herself for initiating this date.
“Thanks. Are you ready to go?” Dan asked, relieved by her response.
“Just let me get my purse and I’m set.”
“I almost forgot. Here, Andi, I got you a little something.”
“What is it? You shouldn’t have, Dan,” she said, but knew her voice exposed pleasure as she opened the package to find a miniature music box with a lake scene painted upon it. When she lifted its lid, a soft and soothing tone filled her ears and made her smile, made her think of passionate sex while listening to it.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, Andi. It’s also a thank you for helping to put one of the bad guys away for a while. I hope you like it and accept it.”
Andrea’s body filled with heady emotions. This man was much too tempting to ignore or resist, as she needed to keep her wits and restraint in check for now. “How could I refuse such a thoughtful gift? It’s beautiful, Dan. Thank you.”
“You can’t, so put it down somewhere and let’s go. I’m sure Cindi would enjoy a late grand entrance, but I like to be less conspicuous. Did you tell her I was coming in your empty slot?”
It was Andrea’s turn to grin. “Nope. I wanted to surprise her. Let’s go.”
They laughed as they exited her condo. Both were hoping this evening was going to be fun, a great time that each needed.
Dan hoped the Avenger would take the night off and prayed for his cell phone to remain silent. Knowing police officers had a reputation for the being the worst drivers, he drove with care down Washington Road to the night club.
At the entrance to the Comedy Theater, Andrea gave the free passes to a large, muscled bouncer at the door and showed him her driver’s license. “It’s policy; they ask everyone,” Andrea said as she waited for Dan to do the same. She winked before adding, “Not that I mind being asked to prove I’m over twenty-one.”
Afterwards, Dan held the door open for her and was relieved when she smiled up at him as she passed through the doorway. So many of the women’s libbers objected strongly to that simple courtesy. He liked a woman who was tough enough to handle her own business, yet feminine enough to enjoy some manly pampering. He liked doing those small things for a woman; it made him feel needed and wanted.
Dan followed Andrea into a large room that was already crowded with numerous people. There was a stage in the center of the room with tables surrounding it. Two raised platforms to each side guaranteed everyone a good view of the show that would soon be taking place. Stand-up comic routines and Saturday Night Live skits were being played on a large screen in the middle of the stage. The volume was turned up high; laughter and voices were raised to be heard over the din. He watched Andrea wind her way through the tables to Cindi’s group that was located in the center beneath the stage.
Andrea sneaked up behind her friend and whispered in her ear, “Yes, I made it and yes, I have a date.”
; Cindi whirled around and hugged Andrea’s neck. “Would it be the tall, dark and handsome gentleman behind you?”
Andrea nodded and grinned. “He does look rather nice, doesn’t he?”
Dan smiled. “You look pretty good yourself, Cindi. Where’s Brian?”
“Right beside you,” a deep voice said. “And who are you?”
“I’m Dan Mallory, a friend of Andi’s.”
“Then you’re the one I need to thank for my birthday present. Cindi told me you gave her the idea. Thanks, man.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Have you ever been here before?”
“No, this is my first time. Anything special I need to know?”
“Just don’t close your eyes, Dan, and don’t listen too closely when he first starts out or you’ll be up on stage whether you like it or not. Last time we were here a lady in the audience was hypnotized and her friends asked the waitress to tell Gary—he’s the show’s star—and he took her up front. I promised Cindi I’d get her good if she ever did that to me. Supposedly, you won’t do anything under hypnosis that you wouldn’t do if you were awake, but I don’t want to take that chance, because I don’t like to lose control. How about you? Think you might try it?”
“I’m here as an observer tonight. Besides, I don’t think I could be hypnotized. And someone else having control over my actions? No, thanks. What do you do, Brian?”
“I’m a dentist. I’m about as well-liked in my profession as you are in yours right now. Cindi told me you’re the one who’s trying to find the Avenger. Having any luck?”
Andrea broke into the conversation before Dan could respond. “No shop talk tonight, Brian. We’re here to celebrate your birthday and enjoy a night out for ourselves. I’d like to escape the slaughter for one night and pretend these heinous crimes don’t exist.”
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