Lucy nods, glances over my shoulder and says, “Sheriff, old man Peterson put in a complaint again about his neighbor. But you know the old—”
“Great! I’m off to take care of that. Please give Special Agent Blackbear our full cooperation while I take care of this matter.”
Not waiting for an answer, I stalk out of the station and get into my cruiser. I’m so mad I could throttle Wilson and feel good about it. I drive the short distance to Mr. Peterson’s house, pull out my cell, and dial an old friend in the LAPD.
“Doug Price’s phone,” says a female.
“Can I speak to Doug, please?”
“Doug is temporarily unavailable on account he’s an idiot who thinks he can leap tall buildings.” There’s mirth in her tone, and I can hear Doug in the background yelling for his phone.
“H-Hello?” yells Doug.
“Doug, it’s Carlos Morales here.”
“Carlos? Fuck, it’s been ages. How are you?”
“Maybe I should be asking you that?”
Doug sucks in a breath. “I was chasing a guy, you know how it goes, and I slipped and fell off a one-story building. They think I’ve busted my ankle.”
I laugh. “So you haven’t changed?”
Doug barks out a chuckle. “Nope, I’m still lovable.”
Doug was the detective everybody wanted as a partner. He was loyal, a straight-arrow who could make you laugh and would have your back in any situation. Unfortunately, Doug was also a risk-taker—not with his partner’s life, but with his own, and that hasn’t changed.
“Could you give me some background on Wilson Blackbear. He used to work with us?”
Doug makes a noise. “You mean Special Agent, don’t you?” From the sarcasm in his voice, I can tell he’s had a run-in with Wilson.
“That’d be him. What’s the story? Why is he such an asshole now?”
“Carlos, where are you now?”
“I’m in Tourmaline. It’s a quiet town, and I’m the sheriff here.”
“No shit? I knew you’d gotten out of LA, but I had no idea you were still in law enforcement.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t do LA anymore, but I like being a policeman.”
“Ask Special Agent Wilson Blackbear how he got that scar on his face.”
I sigh. “Can’t you just tell me, Doug?”
Doug chuckles. “Yeah, I can. Hang on.” I hear muffled voices, and then Doug comes back on the line. “Sorry about that, I’ve got a new partner, and need her to believe I’m a nice guy.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “You are a nice guy, Doug.”
Doug grunts into the phone, neither agreeing or denying my claim. “Just after Wilson got into the FBI, he was working a case in LA with some old friends here who didn’t take him seriously. The guy walked into what he thought was an AFT run operation only to discover they had nothing to do with it, and it was a bunch of corrupt LAPD detectives who wanted a scapegoat. He got shot, demoted, and nearly lost his position. It all came out in the end, but… and you’re not going to like this, they claimed your old partner, Ramirez, was knee-deep in their operations, and you knew about it.”
“That’s fucking bullshit,” I roar in the phone.
“Calm down, Carlos, I know it was bullshit. If it had been true, they would have pursued you. Wilson believed they didn’t want to tarnish a decorated police officer’s memory, and you weren’t here anymore, so he figured they’d sweep it all under the carpet. Wilson no longer plays well with others. I’m sure you’re finding that out.”
“He’s becoming intolerable to work with, he’s more than bitter, but I guess if he believes I’m a dirty cop, that would explain it. Doug, how the fuck do I convince him otherwise?” I can hear Doug tapping away on a keyboard. “Doug?”
“Sorry, Carlos, just Googling Tourmaline. Man, you’re in the middle of fucking nowhere. Do you have any deputies or is it just you?”
“Funny, I normally have six deputies, but right now I only have four.”
Doug chuckles. “So, do you fine people for jaywalking?”
“Yes, that’s why the FBI is here,” I reply sarcastically.
“Why is the FBI there?”
“Remember that serial murder case from years ago, the one with the birds and the tapes?”
“The guy sent you the tapes. Yeah, I remember,” says Doug without a hint of mirth.
“He’s tracked me down. So far three women are missing, and we’ve recovered one dead body.”
“Jesus! After all this time he’s come looking for you?”
“Seems that way.”
“And that’s why Wilson is there. Shit, Carlos, you’re fucked. You could try explaining everything to him, but…”
I let out a breath and closed my eyes. “But he won’t believe me.”
“Yeah. Hey, if you need any help with your serial, you let me know, yeah?”
“I think I have all the help I need. Thanks, Doug. Take care of that ankle.”
“Will do.”
The line goes dead, and I slowly open my eyes. Mr. Peterson is standing next to the cruiser frowning at me, and his neighbor is headed toward us.
Another fun day in Tourmaline.
Carlos
It’s Friday, and I’m looking forward to the weekend and my rostered days off. Deputy Garry Brooker is in charge while I’m off. He’s served here the longest, and I know he’s not on the Savage Angels payroll. Garry’s a little older than me but has no desire to be in charge on a regular basis. I like him. He’s a straight shooter.
“Ahh, Sheriff?” asks Garry.
“Yeah?” I reply not looking up as I try to tidy my desk.
“Thought you should know more FBI agents just turned up.”
I look up at him and groan. That’s just what I need, more fucking feds.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, they’re on their way in. Black Escalade with four agents in it. Blackbear is outside talking to them.” I groan and let my head drop on my desk. “Ahh, Sheriff, they’re coming in.”
I sit bolt upright, square my shoulders, and nod. “Let the fun begin.”
“Right, is that what it is?” asks Garry with a slight shake of his head.
He moves out of the way, and the four new agents come into my office.
I stand and give them my best grin. “Welcome to Tourmaline, I’m Sheriff Carlos Morales. If I can be of any assistance, please let me know.”
Two of them must be new as their mouths drop open.
One of the other agents extends her arm. “Special Agent in charge, Jennifer Argos.” I grasp her hand, and she continues, “And this is Special Agents Burke, Donnelly, and Freer.”
I shake all of their hands, then sit behind my desk. “How can I help?”
Special Agent Argos sits opposite me, head cocked to one side, eyes piercing. “I was under the impression, Sheriff, you weren’t cooperating with Special Agent Blackbear.”
“Not true. Wilson and I are old friends, and I think he has something to prove. You show me respect, and I’ll show you respect. Be an asshole, and I’ll treat you like one. Special Agent Argos, I can use all the help you can give me. I want this guy caught. I’m devastated this animal followed me here and is terrorizing the citizens of my town.”
I watch as she looks up at Burke, and a look passes between them.
“I see. Is there a room we can set up in, Sheriff?”
I stand. “Is our interrogation room, okay? It’s big enough, and of course, I’ll disable the cameras and recording equipment.”
“That sounds fine. Lead the way.”
I turn right out of my office and head down the hallway. If you keep going, you’ll hit the cells. No one is in there right now, and even if someone were in there, it’d be for drunk and disorderly. We don’t have many murderers in Tourmaline.
I open the door to the interrogation room. I already have a table and a whiteboard set up in there for Wilson, not that he ever used it.
“Did you know
we were coming, Sheriff?” asks Special Agent Burke.
“No, sir. We set this up for Special Agent Blackbear, but he’s never used it.”
Burke looks to Argos, and she nods.
“Seems like Special Agent Blackbear doesn’t like you very much, Sheriff.”
“Call me Carlos and no, he doesn’t. We have history. And he believes a bunch of crap that isn’t true. Anyway, I’ll let you folks set up. If you need anything, please ask any one of my deputies or me. We’re here to help.”
I saunter back to my office as Wilson walks toward me.
“They’re in the interrogation room, the one we set up for you.”
“They’re not in your office?”
“No, they prefer to have some space and let me do my job. Kind of them.” I nod at him, go into my office, and shut my door.
Carlos
There’s a knock on my door. I don’t bother to look up as I yell for them to come in. I am up to my elbows in paperwork, the government and all its departments love its forms. I assumed whoever entered my office was one of my deputies, but when they clear their throats, I look up to find a very large man standing in front of me. He’s easily six foot, has an eyebrow cocked, and is looking at me expectantly. I glare at him, then stare around him to the bullpen to find there’s no one out there.
“How did you get in?” I ask.
The man shrugs. He’s wearing a dark blue suit with a white T-shirt, and his long hair is pulled into a man bun.
“No one was at the desk. I hit the bell on the counter, but after five minutes, I decided I needed to take affirmative action. You’ve been on my ass to see you, Sheriff, I figured I better at least introduce myself. The name’s Tobias Dupont, I manage The Cherry in Marlowe.”
Tobias extends his hand, and I rise, grasping his hand in mine. The handshake is firm, and he releases me and sits in the chair opposite.
Tobias gestures to my mountain of paperwork. “Don’t you have people who can do that for you?”
“Yeah, but we’ve been a little busy of late, and it just mounts up if you don’t keep on top of it.”
“I can see you’re on top of it,” replies Tobias with a chuckle.
“You’re a hard man to get a hold of.”
“My employers aren’t known for cooperating with the law. I needed to make sure you were okay.”
Surprised at his frankness, I sit and lean back in my chair. “I take it I passed the test?”
Tobias nods. “Dane said you’re okay.” He leans forward, elbows on his knees. “But I’ve yet to meet a lawman I like.”
“Fair enough.”
“Three.”
“Three what?” I ask perplexed.
“I have three women missing from The Cherry. One of them might be a runner, the life’s not for everyone, but the other two wouldn’t have left.”
“Fuck,” I hiss out.
“Yeah. Creepers are a normal part of the business. There’s always a few hanging around. Most are harmless. I went back six weeks, pulled the security footage from the front row and outside the building. No one stands out, but I have the tapes in my car if you’d like them?”
“You’re giving me access to your security footage?”
Tobias grins. “Only those two areas.”
“There’s more?”
“Not going to happen. My girls like their privacy, and I guarantee them I’ll keep them safe and not exploit them. I pride myself on running a clean, drug-free club. The Savage Angels might own us, but they don’t own me. Those girls are like family, and they aren’t just property to be bought and sold to the highest bidder.”
“I’m not interested in exploiting anyone, but if there’s more?”
Tobias stands, reaches into his jacket and pulls out a piece of paper. “These are the names of the girls who have gone missing. If you find something on the tapes, I might, and it’s a big might, hand over additional footage.”
I take the paper and stand. “I could subpoena you.”
“Those tapes might conveniently disappear, and I’ll deny this conversation ever took place.”
As I stare into his eyes, I know he’s not bluffing. “Right.” I look down at the paper. It has the names of three women on it and all of their personal information. “But if we find something, you’d be amenable to handing them over, if they exist?”
Tobias grins, exposing perfectly straight white teeth, and I think he looks a little like a shark. There’s undoubtedly a lot lurking below the surface with this one.
“You got that right. Want to help me bring in the tapes?”
I nod and walk around my desk. Tobias strolls through the station and out the front door. His car is a brand-new red Mustang. Tobias catches me looking at his ride and grins.
“She’s a beauty, hey?”
I grin back, nodding. “Yeah, if you like death traps. Those things aren’t very safe. Have you read any of the testing that has been done on them?”
The grin slips from his face. Tobias opens the door to his car, reaches in, and hands me a box.
“Jealousy is a curse, Sheriff.”
“I’m not jealous of your car, Mr. Dupont. It’s pretty, but I wouldn’t own one. I like my passengers to get from point A to point B in one piece.”
“Guess it depends on how well you drive, and call me Tobias.”
“Is this it?” I ask as I hold up the box.
“Yeah, we transferred everything onto USB sticks. Nothing was tampered with. I give you my word. We went back a month before the first woman went missing.”
“You sure they didn’t just wander off?”
“As I said, one maybe. But all three? No. I’ve spoken to all of their families or close associates, and no one has seen them. My gut says whoever this guy is, he’s taken them.”
I hold up the box. “Thank you. I have a feeling the feds will want a word with you.”
Tobias shakes his head. “Don’t do feds, Sheriff. Hell, if it weren’t for Dane, I wouldn’t be here. Don’t turn me into a ghost. I like living in Marlowe.”
“You’d disappear rather than talk to a fed?”
Tobias nods. “I have a past. It’s not something I want to talk about or get into. I like the life I have now. I’m good at my job, and I make decent money. Feds could complicate that.”
Not wanting to spook the man, I nod. “Thanks, Tobias, if I need more, I’ll be in touch.”
The man does a two-fingered wave and gets into his Mustang. Before he drives off, he powers the window down.
“Sheriff, I hope you catch this guy. I’ll be in town till tomorrow. I’m staying at the Reynold’s if you need me.”
I nod as he takes off in a cloud of blue smoke and screeching tires. I’m left on the sidewalk, coughing and shaking my head.
Kade
I am sitting across from Zeke and Cassia, and the man can’t keep his hands off her. We’re in the clubhouse bar, and one of the Angels, Coral, is swaying to the music with a group of guys salivating over her. Coral dies her hair to match her name—it’s a horrible light orange sort of peach. It’s weird.
Destiny walks into the room and does a shimmy behind Coral, and now all those lusty eyes are on my woman. Unlike Coral, who’s barely wearing enough clothing to cover her ass, my woman is in a black power suit with six-inch black heels. The light pink shirt only has the top two buttons undone, but she’s a sexy sight. I scowl at the other men in the room, and Destiny giggles knowing full well what she’s doing to me and everyone else in the room for that matter. Sometimes, her previous life as an exotic dancer spills over, especially on the dance floor.
When she gets within reaching distance, I pull her onto my lap and kiss her thoroughly, which makes Destiny giggle louder.
“You know you could pee on my leg. It’d make a bigger statement.”
Zeke bursts out laughing and smacks the tabletop to bring home his amusement. He’s my closest friend, but right now I’m sure I’m killing him slowly with my scathing look.
&nb
sp; “Aww, come on, Kade, don’t be like that.” Zeke’s gaze flicks to my woman. “Destiny, you can shake it with the best of them.”
Cassia slaps him hard, and then I get to laugh at him.
“You show him,” I tease.
“Oh, stop it,” says Destiny as she kisses my cheek. “And what were you doing eyeing Coral in the first place, hmmm?
“I swear I wasn’t.”
“Your eyes were on her.” Destiny waves a hand in my face, so I know she’s not mad. “I have news.”
“What?” we all ask at once.
Destiny smiles, and she looks like the proverbial cat who swallowed the canary. “We did it. We’re getting Renny out.” Tears well in her eyes, and she looks directly at me. “There’s a bit of paperwork, but he should be with us by the end of the month.” Destiny takes a deep breath and tears run down her cheeks. “I don’t know why I’m crying. This is good news. The best news.”
I wrap her in my arms.
“It is good news. We should celebrate. Let’s all go out to dinner.”
Destiny shakes her head. “Nope.” She wipes her face and looks at the others. “You’re all coming to Rush’s house. He and Doc are cooking us dinner. I think he’s invited just about everyone.” Destiny smiles and looks back at me. “I think he wants to show off his new house and prove to Jonas he’s better at cooking ribs than him.”
I grin at her and pull her closer. “You sure?” Destiny nods. “Okay, barbecue at Rush’s.”
Rush’s new home can barely be called a house. It’s a two-story that’s not finished. He’s assured all of us that the bathroom is in working order, but it’s just a shell. I’m standing on his front lawn looking at the view when I feel Destiny press herself to my back and wrap her arms around my waist.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“I think Rush got the best spot, three hundred and sixty-degree views.”
Destiny moves around to stand beside me. “He picked it because Zeke liked it.”
I look at her. “How do you know that?”
“Rush told me. He’s desperate to have a relationship with him and fit in with his friends. That means you, too.”
Savage Life Page 5