by Josh Lanyon
“Is that right? Who?” He sounded amused.
Racking my brain for any reality TV person I could think of, I said, “Oh, um…you know…the guy who does Survivor.”
“Jeff Probst?”
“Uh…sure, let’s go with that.”
“You sold your show, but you don’t know the name of the person you sold it to?” He was outright laughing now. “You’re a heck of a business man.”
“Thank you.” I got in my car, started the engine, and turned on the air full blast. “If you need me to negotiate any of your deals, just let me know.”
“I will.”
We fell silent, and he cleared his throat. “You forgot to get your clothes the other night.”
“I know. I still have your clothes too.”
“Maybe you should come to my hotel, and we can do the exchange.”
I smiled. “Or maybe we should just keep the clothes we have. I’m starting to really like that blue shirt.”
“Sure. Keep it. But come over anyway.”
Excitement ramped in my gut. “I don’t know if I should.”
He groaned. “Enough with the playing hard to get, Decker. Come on. We’re grown-ups. We’re just having fun. Is fun not allowed in your world?”
“I try to keep it to a minimum so I don’t get used to it.”
“Please. I had a rough day, and I’d love to hang out with my favorite Robbery-Homicide detective.”
“I’m the only detective you know, right?”
“So insecure.”
I smirked as I pulled out into traffic, heading toward the station. “I still have some stuff to finish up.”
“That’s fine. I just got back to the hotel. Would you want to eat dinner here? I can order room service.”
“Harry is still guarding your ass, right?”
He sighed. “Yes. My shadow is still parked next door.”
“Will he be joining us for dinner?”
“Uh, no.”
I found it hard to stop smiling. The idea of spending time with Jax had me feeling downright giddy, and I didn’t really do giddy. Of course, while this was fun, I was realistic enough to realize that whatever this was between us, it had a limited shelf life.
“What time?” I found myself asking.
“Seven?”
“Sounds good.” We hung up.
I had a few more interviews lined up with the film crew. My interview with Tim had me intrigued. I couldn’t shake the feeling he knew a lot more than he was saying. I got that feeling from Robin and Paul too. Maybe the couple had an alibi for Dale’s murder, but where were they when those two attempts were made on Jax?
When I arrived at the precinct, Andy met me at my desk. “Just got off the phone with the arson investigator.” He waved a paper under my nose. “There was an incendiary device set up near the door to Jax’s office.”
“I figured because I heard a loud bang right before the fire started.” I frowned. “If it was well hidden, that’s going to make it harder to pinpoint who dropped it off. Someone could have put it there anytime during the day, and we don’t have the camera footage for that floor. Just the stairs and elevators.”
“Yeah. But we know who visited Jax during the day.” He rubbed his chin. “Robin was there during the day.”
“Her and twenty other people. Plus, she works for Jax. There’s nothing weird about her talking with him.”
“True.” He bit his lip. “There were no prints on the device, which sucks.”
“I doubted there would be. Probably wore gloves.”
“Wouldn’t that have flagged the receptionist’s attention? It would be unusual for someone to just walk around with gloves.”
“I’ve been in Jax’s office when it’s busy. There are so many people coming and going, and the phone rings constantly. My guess is Tressa would have been pretty distracted.”
“Damn.” He scowled. “By the way, other than Ben Willoughby, Lucinda Pinwheel is the only person who has obvious ties to animal rights groups. But she has no record, and as far as I can tell she’s not an extremist.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Do we know yet where Robin and Paul were when those attempts were made on Jax?”
“I have it in my notes.” He frowned. “I’m drawing a blank. I’ll check and get back to you.”
“Sounds good.”
I spent the next few hours interviewing some of the crew, including the camera guy who’d been in the bathroom during the attack on Dale. If he was our guy, he deserved an Academy Award. The guy was still a wreck and started crying at least four times during the interview.
Andy came back by my desk in the late afternoon. “The night of the drive-by shooting, Paul and Robin were supposedly home all night together.”
“How convenient.”
“They ordered a pizza and rented a movie. I saw the receipts for both.”
“Okay. What about the day of the fire?”
“Paul was in San Diego for a job interview, which I verified. Robin was at a tanning salon about ten minutes away. I spoke to the girl who runs the place, and she said Robin is a regular about three times a week. She remembers Robin coming in that day.”
“Well, hell.”
“I know. Every time I think maybe we’re getting somewhere, it falls flat. Everybody appears to have verifiable alibis.”
“Someone has to be lying.”
“That Tim guy seemed pretty sketchy from what you said, but he was having surgery.”
“Exactly.” I tapped my pen on the desktop. “I still don’t see how Dale’s death connects to the stuff happening to Jax.”
“Maybe Dale’s death really was an accident. Could the keypad have malfunctioned and erased Dale’s code on its own?”
“Not according to the manufacturer.”
“Like they’d admit anything.”
“True.” I glanced at my watch, noticing it was six. I’d wanted to swing by my place and shower before going to Jax’s hotel.
Andy noticed me looking at my timepiece. “You got a date or something?”
My face warmed, and I avoided his gaze. “No.”
“You’ve checked your watch, like, five times.” He laughed.
“The battery is dying.” I shook my wrist to make my lie more believable.
Andy narrowed his eyes, looking unconvinced. “You’re allowed to have a personal life.”
“Obviously.”
“No obviously about it. I can’t even remember the last time you went out on a date.”
I scowled. “It’s not like I’d announce it to you when I do.”
“No, but I can tell when your love life is going well. You’re less grouchy. You’ve been grouchy for at least six months.”
“Save your detecting skills for the case, okay?”
He shrugged. “Fine by me. It’s not like I want the details of who you’re dating. I got enough trouble keeping track of my own love life.”
“You probably need an Excel spread sheet to keep all your women straight.”
He chuckled. “That’s a great idea.”
I stood. “I’m gonna take off. See you tomorrow.” I pulled on my jacket, and he grinned. “What’s so funny?”
“Just that you’re trying to play it so cool.”
“You’re nuts.”
“Decker, we’ve worked together for five years. I know you.” He smirked. “It’s hurtful that you won’t confide in me.”
“Bullshit.” I laughed, heading for the elevators.
“Have fun on your date,” he called after me.
Luckily, the traffic wasn’t bad. I was able to get home, shower, and still get to Jax’s hotel by seven. My hands felt a little sweaty and my pulse was zipping as I knocked on his hotel door.
Harry poked his head out of the adjoining room. “Oh, hey, Decker.”
I gave a curt nod. “Harry.” I didn’t love that he knew I was seeing Jax, but since it had been my idea for Jax to have a bodyguard, I couldn’t exactly complain now.
Jax opened his door. “You’re five minutes early. You must have actually wanted to see me.”
“Or my watch is fast.”
Jax rolled his eyes. “Ignore him, Harry. He just doesn’t like to show his feelings.”
Harry simply nodded and closed his door.
Jax stepped aside to let me in. He smelled like coconut sun tan oil, and his hair was wet as if he’d just showered. He closed the door and gave me a happy smile.
“You look nice.” He ran his gaze over my body.
I pressed my lips tight, resisting the urge to kiss him. “I thought about bringing a bottle of wine because I know you like wine. But then I figured you probably wouldn’t even drink the swill I call wine.”
He frowned. “You act like I eat pearls and drink from golden goblets.”
“No. I just know you have more expensive tastes than me.”
“I’ve had plenty of average vino in my time.”
“Yeah, before you were rich.”
He sighed. “Decker, stop.” He moved closer, and his gray eyes were warm. “Don’t fixate on my money. I certainly don’t.”
I pushed my tongue into my cheek, struggling with annoying insecurities that always seemed to pop up when I was around Jax. I’d never dated anyone who made a lot more money than me. I’d dated guys who made a little more than me, and guys who made less, but Jax was in a completely different tax bracket. I enjoyed seeing him, but his wealth did make me uncomfortable.
“Relax,” he whispered as he put his arms around my neck, pressing close. I groaned when he kissed me, my hunger flaring the minute I tasted him. He pulled my shirt out of my waistband and pushed his hands up under the soft material. His palms were smooth as silk as they glided over my chest.
“I planned on us eating at seven thirty, but right now all I can think about is you inside me,” he whispered against my mouth.
My cock seemed to swell at the sound of his voice, and I wrapped my arms around his narrow waist. I’d expected the evening to start a little slower too, but the minute he kissed me, all I wanted was to fuck him. Dinner could wait. I had other appetites that needed satiating.
“Should I call room service and reschedule dinner for eight thirty?” He was breathless as he kissed a trail up my neck and along my jaw.
“Whatever you think is best.” I took his lips roughly, and he moaned into my mouth. I unzipped his jeans and slipped my hand into his underwear, palming his dick.
He groaned. “I don’t think I remember how to use the phone.”
“What’s a phone?”
Grinning, he pulled back, raking a hand through his hair. “God, my heart is pounding.”
I liked hearing how much I affected him. “Let’s definitely eat later.”
“Okay.” He moved toward the hotel phone on the desk.
When my cell buzzed, we both groaned.
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Can’t you just ignore it?” he asked hopefully.
“Depends.” I tugged my phone from my back pocket. “Damn. It’s Andy. I have to take this.”
Jax looked disappointed, but shrugged and went into the bedroom.
Feeling annoyed at the interruption, I answered the phone curtly. “Decker.”
“Hey, sorry to bother you.” Andy sounded uneasy.
“What’s up?” I asked, feeling exasperated. Apparently, I actually wasn’t allowed to have a personal life.
“I’ve got some bad news.”
“What?”
“Well…Tim Sloan just blew his brains out.” Andy’s voice wobbled.
A chill went through me. “What?”
“We just got the call. His wife went shopping, and when she came back, he was dead.”
“What the fuck?” Nothing about Tim had made me think he was a man about to end his life. “I just saw him earlier today.”
“I know.”
“Can we verify his wife was actually shopping?”
“I requested the grocery store’s video.”
“Could it have been accidental?”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
“Shit.” I met Jax’s gaze when he came out of the bedroom. He didn’t speak, just came closer and watched me, his expression serious. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Sorry about ruining your evening.” Andy sounded sincere.
“Can’t be helped.” I hung up and met Jax’s gaze.
“Something bad happened?”
“Uh, yeah.” I swallowed hard. “Tim Sloan is dead.”
His eyes widened. “What?” He stepped back, the color draining from his face. “How?”
“Possible suicide.”
His mouth moved, but no sound came out.
“I have to go.”
He seemed to gather himself. “Of course.”
“I think Harry should be in this room. Next door isn’t good enough.”
“Does that mean you don’t think it was suicide?”
“I don’t know yet. All I know is Tim is dead from a gunshot wound. But I saw him earlier today, and he didn’t strike me as suicidal.”
He grunted and turned his back to me. “What the hell is happening? I don’t understand.”
I moved close to him and pulled him against me. He didn’t resist, and I wrapped my arms around him from behind. Pressing my face to the nape of his neck, it was impossible not to feel protective of him. I could feel fear trembling through him, and it bothered me more than I’d have expected.
“That’s two people dead.” His voice wobbled. “I’m afraid I’m next.”
“No.” I tightened my hold on him. “I’m not going to let that happen.”
“You can’t be with me all the time.”
He was right. But I wasn’t about to feed his fear. “This could easily be suicide. But just in case, stick close to Harry.”
“If someone murdered Tim, this person must be crazy, right?” He swiveled in my arms, his gaze meeting mine. “They’re so erratic. Do most murderers behave like this?”
I shrugged. “They’re all different.” I was worried too about how unpredictable this person was. I had no idea what they would try next, or who they’d go after. If this wasn’t suicide, I had to assume Tim must have known something, and the killer had gone after him to shut him up. But I didn’t know that for sure. Maybe this person was just nuts and simply killed when they had the opportunity.
I felt awful leaving Jax, but the best way to keep him safe was to find the killer. I sucked in a breath and forced myself to let go of him. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
He nodded, clenching his jaw. “Right.”
“Remember what I said about not trusting people right now.”
“How could I forget?” His smile was tight.
I tucked in my shirt and headed to the door. I opened it and knocked on Harry’s door. He opened it quickly, looking alert. “What’s up?”
“Something happened, and I have to take off.” I glanced toward Jax’s room. “You need to stay with Jax in his room.”
“Sure. Whatever he wants.”
“Okay, good.” I shifted uneasily. “Be super careful, Harry. It’s possible the person after Jax just killed someone else.”
“No problem.” He patted his hip. “I’m ready.”
I nodded, feeling slightly reassured.
Jax came to the door. “I guess we’re roommates now, Harry.”
Harry nodded. “Just let me grab my stuff.” He closed his door.
I faced Jax. “If anything seems off to you, call me.”
“Okay.”
The night had started so promising. Now Jax looked scared, and I felt like a dick abandoning him, even though I knew I had to. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t. It might be too hard to let go.
“I’ll call you later to check on you.”
“You don’t have to.” He leaned on the doorjamb.
“Maybe I want to.”
“Jesus, you must really think I’m in danger if you’re being t
his nice to me.”
I studied him, searching for words of comfort. But I couldn’t think of anything that wouldn’t be a lie. I wasn’t prone to coddling people, and I didn’t want to reassure him too much in case he let his guard down. “I’ll call you.”
He looked a little let down by my response. “Hey, if I’m still alive, I’ll answer.”
Before I could speak, Harry opened his door, and I stepped back. I nodded to them both, then headed down the hallway toward the elevators.
Chapter Nine
Tim’s body was being removed as I arrived. I parked haphazardly, pulled on gloves, and hurried to the coroner’s van to take a look at the body.
“Give me a minute, guys.” I pulled back the covering. I winced at the sight of the bloody corpse as I examined the single shot to the temple. I couldn’t help wishing he’d been more forthcoming when I interviewed him. If he’d had secrets, they were going to the grave with him. “Was there any sign of a struggle?”
One of the technicians replied, “Not that I noticed.”
Andy walked up as I was examining Tim’s arms for bruising. “Hey, boss.”
I met his gaze. “Did he leave a suicide note?”
“We haven’t found one.”
“How about a cell?”
Andy frowned. “Maybe forensics already bagged it.”
“Could you please find out?”
“Sure.” He wandered toward the house.
I examined Tim a bit longer, then pulled the cover back over him. I’d need to wait for the ME to tell me if the evidence proved it was suicide, or staged to look like that. I moved toward the house. Even from outside I could hear Tammy Sloan wailing. When I entered the small home, she was at the kitchen table, sobbing into a paper towel.
She looked up, her eyes puffy and red. “If this was a suicide, why did your people check my hands for gun residue? Do you really think I could kill my own husband?”
“We’d have to check anyone in your situation, Tammy.”
“Well, I’d never hurt Tim. I loved him.” She waved her hand. “I didn’t even know we had a gun in the house.”
“I know this is very difficult for you, and I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.