Shiela Stewart - [Darkness 07] Read online

  “Thanks, Doc, I’ll pass that along.”

  Sienna stood in wonderment as the two discussed everyday activities like they were having coffee rather than standing over a gruesomely mutilated body. She had an odd feeling about the ME.

  “Please tell me you’re not also a general practitioner or OBGYN?” That would just be…icky.

  “Oh, heavens no. I deal with the dead, mostly. They don’t complain when you look after them.”

  He smiled and she actually felt her cheeks flush. He was definitely a charmer.

  Thank God. “Okay, now what?” She thumbed toward the young woman on the ground.

  “I take her to the morgue, check her out thoroughly, and conclude what the manner of death was. Though, I think we can all guess.”

  “The fist-sized hole in her chest is a dead giveaway.”

  He nodded at Sienna’s response. “But it has to be done. I’ll do a toxicology screen to see if she was drugged beforehand. If she follows in the footsteps of the other victims, the tox’ll come back negative.”

  Sienna couldn’t imagine what those poor victims had gone through before their deaths. What had they felt? Had the shock numbed the pain or had they felt everything before death took them? Did they know their killer? Had he approached them in a casual manner before taking their lives? Or had he jumped them and ripped their chests open without so much as a hello?

  “Notify me when the tests come back. Here’s my pager number.” She handed Cooper her card, then turned to the alley behind her. “I’m going to do a walk-through and check out the layout. Officer Barlow, when your guy’s done interviewing the witness, I would like the report.”

  “Will do, Lieutenant.” He held out his hand. “Welcome to the job.”

  She took his hand, which was firm, and gave it a squeeze. “Thanks.”

  She began to walk, passing the witness who was blubbering into Officer Dickie’s shoulder. How he was able to understand what she was saying was beyond her, but she gave him kudos for not being a jerk and shaking the woman off. Problem was, being too soft wasn’t always good on the job.

  It could kill you.

  ***

  Nathan slammed the door to his apartment with an earsplitting bang which of course, made him cringe. Damn headache. He was in a foul mood and didn’t give a damn if the neighbors bitched about him this time. He tossed his keys and mail on the coffee table cluttered with papers and cups, then headed to the kitchen for a beer.

  Medical stress leave! He’d been put on medical stress leave. What the fuck for? He was perfectly fine. It had been a week since he’d been knocked unconscious. His head wound was healing up perfectly fine. He could see all of the five fingers the doc had held up and he knew his damn name and address and the headaches were getting better. He certainly wasn’t suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yeah, he’d lost his partner, his best friend, but he was still more than capable of doing his fucking job.

  Popping the top of his can of beer, Nathan chugged back nearly half before heading to the sofa. It wasn’t like he was going wig out on someone and start firing off his weapon. He had more sense than that. And he was not obsessed with the Heartless Killer. No matter what the shrink and his boss said. He was determined, that was all. If determination was a flaw, he was guilty, but he sure as hell had no intention of giving up or stopping the search for the guy simply because his boss and the department shrink told him to. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

  Grabbing the TV remote, Nathan flipped through the channels, not at all impressed with what was on. Even the porno channel was boring. Same old same old. Guy meets girl, lures her to his bedroom, they fuck like rabbits in heat, girl invites a few friends, and the fuck-fest turns into an orgy.

  Nathan clicked the TV off, set the remote on the coffee table, and polished off his beer. Maybe that was what he needed. A good lay. It had been weeks since he’d gotten any and thinking about that only made him angrier. Molly Hedland, two-timing, cheating bitch. If he never saw her face again, it would be too soon. Still…she had been a superb lay.

  He pulled himself from the sofa, tossed his empty can in the overflowing trash can on his way to grab another beer. His kitchen was a mess of dirty dishes piled high in his sink, scattered over the countertop and table, along with yesterday’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The floor looked like it could use a good wash and he was pretty sure beneath the dingy gray was some sort of cream tile. When was the last time he’d washed it? It was better not to think about it.

  Opening the fridge to grab a second beer, he decided to add some food to his belly. What did he have to eat? Dried-out sandwich meat. Moldy cheese. No eggs left in the carton—why the hell he hadn’t thrown it out when he’d used them up was anyone’s guess. How old was that leftover pizza? Opening the box told him everything.

  He really was a slob.

  Beer in hand, he slammed the fridge closed and headed back to the living room. Maybe he’d order some Chinese. Nah, he’d had Chinese last week. Or was it the week before? He’d lost track. Chicken. Maybe he’d order some spicy wings to go with the beer.

  Now where was that phone book?

  He pushed some papers aside to set his beer on the messy coffee table—he’d get right on cleaning that as soon as he was done cleaning the kitchen. Not finding it on the table he began searching elsewhere for it. He found it in the washroom, of all places. As he plopped back down on the sofa, Nathan realized he had no idea where the telephone was.

  Man, he really did need to clean up the place. Though, in his defense, he had spent two days in the hospital and when he’d returned home he hadn’t felt much like cleaning.

  With a careless toss, the phone book landed on the coffee table and knocked over his beer. “Fuck!” Scooping it up, he set it on the floor, then hurried to the messy kitchen for a rag to mop it up. “I have got to clean this place,” he muttered as he wiped up the spilled beer.

  It was then he noticed the letter.

  He shook the splashed beer from the envelope. On the front in big, bold, red letters was his name and address. Ripping it open, he gave it a shake before reading.

  Hello, Nathan old boy. I hear you’ve been put on leave. What a shame. I so enjoyed our chase. Oh well, I suppose I messed you up pretty bad by killing your best bud. But you’ll be happy to know he served me well. Still does. Maybe it’s best you’re on leave. Gives you plenty of free time and maybe…time to play. Wanna play a game, Nathan? Sure you do. How about…catch me if you can? Since I so enjoyed our chase, I thought I would invite you to join me. See, I grew tired of Boston and decided I needed a change of scenery. I’m sure you’ll figure out where I’ve gone. You’re a bright cop.

  See you soon,

  Nathan picked up the envelope, turned it over to read the return address. “Jacob’s Cove. Where the hell is that?” Running to the kitchen and scrambling through the drawers, Nathan found the map. He swiped his arm across the table, clearing it, sending dirty dishes and moldy food falling onto the floor, then set the map out. It took him several minutes before he found the city. Grabbing the map, not bothering to fold it up, he snatched his keys and the envelope from the coffee table as he ran for the door. Killer wanted to play? Then he would damn well get a game. Only this time, Nathan was determined to win.

  Chapter Two

  Standing in the doorway, Sienna was in awe. She had an office. Her very own office. Sure, she’d had her own space back home in Kansas, if you could call a cubicle an office. This room was big enough to fit the wide steel desk, two steel filing cabinets, two chairs, and enough room left over to do the cha cha . Sienna was in awe. She really had her own office and she had to double check just to make sure. Glancing at the name plate on the door made her giddy. Yep, there it was, her name—Lieutenant Sienna Storm. Hot damn!

  Closing the door, she scooted to her desk and plo
pped down in the high-backed office chair that felt as if it had been designed for her ass. Throwing her arms in the air, she did a little ditty, cheering. And jumped at the knock on the door. Yanking her arms down, she cleared her throat, and gave her copper blazer a tug before responding. “Enter.”

  In walked a tall, dark, handsome man who was definitely drool worthy, even if he was a vampire.

  “Detective Dante Vega at your service, Lieutenant.”

  Oh, and he had a voice to match the appearance. Like dark chocolate. Giving herself a mental slap, Sienna reminded herself dating a colleague only led to trouble.

  “Detective Vega, pleasure to meet you.” Standing, Sienna held her hand out to the babe. When he clasped his fingers around her hand she felt the gentleness of his palm against her own.

  “I thought I would bring in the reports from the previous victims of our serial killer for you to go over.” He dropped a folder on her desk then took a seat in the chair in front of her desk.

  Get your head in the game, Storm. Taking her seat, Sienna picked up the file and flipped it open.

  “Your first day started off with a bang,” Dante spoke as Sienna looked over the file.

  Flicking her eyes up, she saw the smile on his face and her heart did a little dance. Damn ethics. “Nothing like a serial murder case to say welcome.”

  “I contemplated whether or not to have them call you in, then decided if you’re going to do this job, might as well start it off right.”

  “I appreciate the call. Looks like you’ve done a thorough job, Detective, but I already have this information. It was sent to me before I came here.” She closed up the file. “How long have you been on the force?”

  “Technically, I’m not. I’m a private investigator, but I was on the force some time back for about six years. I’m doing double duty for my pal, Trinity.”

  “Mayor Hawthorn?”

  “One and the same. We go way back. She needed someone to come in and get things started, show the new guys the ropes and I said sure. My PI business is kinda slow these days.”

  She imagined it would be given the fact that the city was still being rebuilt and the population was down from its original thirty-four thousand plus to the ten thousand that occupied it now. “Tell me what your thoughts are on this case.”

  “He or she—I’m betting it’s a he— isn’t human. No incisions were made, no evidence of an instrument. The flesh around the hole is ragged, torn. It almost seems like the heart was ripped from their chests. To do that, the person would have to have incredible strength.”

  “But you’re not thinking vampire?”

  Dante shook his head. “What does a vampire want with a heart and aside from that, no teeth marks and the blood isn’t drained from the body except from the gaping hole in the chest. Just not sure what kind of demon would do such a thing.”

  Neither was she. Truth was she wasn’t overly educated in the races of demons, despite being one herself. She yanked the phone up seconds before it rang. “Lieutenant Storm.”

  “Hello, Lieutenant. This is Mayor Hawthorn. I hope I’m not getting you at a bad time?”

  “Not at all, Madam Mayor.” She looked up at Dante with a wide-eyed, nervous look.

  “Perfect. If you have a minute, could you come up to the chief’s office? We’re on the second floor, big office to your left and down the hall.”

  “Of course. I’ll be there in fifteen.” She set the phone down and saw Dante gaping.

  “I know. I was thinking the same thing. The Mayor just called me like…we were buds.” She’d never spoken to the mayor back home, not even once.

  He snorted, waving a hand at her.

  “I talk to Trinity all the time. How’d you know the phone was going to ring before it rang?”

  “Instincts. I’m a Tejjakan.”

  “Ah…full blooded?”

  “Half breed. I have to meet the chief and the mayor in fifteen. I’m going to go over the reports again when I get back, then I want to talk to the neighbors in the areas where the bodies were found. I like to work alone,” she told him point blank. If he couldn’t handle it, well, that was his problem.

  “Not a prob, I tend to prefer working alone when I’m on a case as well, which is why I decided to open my own PI office. You need anything from me you know how to find me. Great to have you on board, Lieutenant.”

  “Thanks, Detective.” She walked him out, then decided to take a tour of the place she was now calling home before she headed to her meeting. It was a fairly large precinct but Sienna imagined once all the jobs were filled the place wouldn’t seem so large. Not with dozens of officers chatting or phones ringing, not to mention interrogations. But for now she’d take advantage of the quiet. She introduced herself to the officers writing up reports, and to the dispatcher. When she checked her watch Sienna noticed she was hitting it close to being late.

  Picking up her pace, she headed to the second floor and to the chief’s office. There was no administrator by the desk and Sienna wondered if the woman was on a break, or if the chief didn’t have one. Drawing in a deep breath and telling herself to stay calm, Sienna rapped her knuckles on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Taking one more deep breath and releasing it, Sienna pushed through the door. The windows in the room were shaded, as she would expect for an office of a vampire. Then she nearly swallowed her tongue when her eyes focused on the dark and dangerous hunk behind the desk with eyes an interesting icy blue. What was it with Jacob’s Cove and hunky men? Then the woman sitting on his desk turned, stood, and smiled. She had long, blood red hair tied at the base of her neck and blue green eyes similar to the chief’s. Sienna had spoken to both on the telephone, but seeing them in person was a whole different matter.

  She hoped her nervousness didn’t show.

  “Lieutenant Storm, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  The chief stood and held his hand out to her as she approached his desk. She took it and felt the power in his grip. “Likewise, Chief Hawthorn.”

  “Welcome to the family.”

  Taking the mayor’s hand, Sienna noticed the power in her grip as well. She had a feeling this was not a woman who took much lightly. “Thank you, Madam Mayor.”

  “Please, call me Trinity. It’s just a title, not a name. Sit.” She held a hand out to the chair in front of the desk and as she sat on the corner of the chief’s desk, Sienna took the chair.

  Right, like she could call the woman by her first name.

  “I understand you came into your first case with a bang?” Trinity grinned as the chief took his seat.”I spoke with Cooper, our ME,” she explained at Sienna’s look of confusion.

  Sienna shrugged, reminding herself they were just people and that she should stop being so nervous. Then the name hit her. “Hawthorn. Are the two of you related?”

  “Not by blood, per se, but Cooper and I have known each other since I was a boy. He’s been like a father to me, so I decided to take his name. But that’s a whole other story. The wife and I just wanted to welcome you to the city and to your new life.”

  “I thought we agreed when we were on the job we wouldn’t refer to each other as spouses.”

  “Right, I forgot. We’re still newlyweds,” the chief explained. “Sometimes my pride just flows out.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. I’ve read over your file, Lieutenant, and I must say it’s quite impressive,” Trinity began. “But I’m surprised to see the absence of your true lineage in your work record.”

  “Not every city is like Jacob’s Cove, Madam Mayor.” Demons, vampires, and werewolves lived as freely here as humans. It was one of the reasons she’d wanted to come here to work.

  “You’re so right and I recall asking you to call me by my first name. I hate t
itles.”

  Then why would you want to take up the position of mayor?

  “Yes, ma’am—Trinity.” It just felt so weird to call someone in authority by their first name. “I chose not to disclose my heredity simply because most people tend to think a person who claims they can see moments into the future or have the abilities of a cat as mentally unbalanced.”

  Chief Hawthorn’s face lit up with his smile as he leaned back in his chair. “Well, you won’t have to worry about that here. Anyone who comes to live in Jacob’s Cove is different in some way, shape, or form.” He got to his feet, holding his hand out to her. “We’re overjoyed that you decided to join us.”

  Standing she took his hand, giving it a firm shake. “I’m happy to be here.”

  Sienna decided to take a detour to the ME’s office before heading out, only to find that the doc was out on a medical run. When Sienna inquired of her tox reports, the assistant ME laughed boldly at her, which Sienna did not find impressive.

  “You’ll have to be patient in Jacob’s Cove,” the woman had said, settling her laugh. “Until we fill more positions, the toxicology reports are sent to the nearest city available. We should have it back in a week.”

  A week?

  Sienna grumbled as she left the office. How the hell was she supposed to catch a killer if she didn’t know what he did to the body before or after taking the life? Things didn’t get any better for Sienna when she realized her ride was still in the shop. Signing out a patrol car, she headed to the scene of the first murder.

  Was this day over yet?

  ***

  His eyes were drooping, so Nathan pulled over at the next rest stop and got out of his car. Considering the sign that said there were vacancies, he decided all he needed was a strong cup of coffee and a walk to wake him up. He’d take the walk first and drink the coffee while he drove. He didn’t want to waste time sleeping. All he wanted to do was get to Jacob’s Cove. The sooner he did, the better. Someone’s life depended on it.