Dark Wings Descending (16 page)

Rafe was surprised by this admission. “How many women have you killed so far, Mr. Epcot?”

“Just a few.” His smile widened. “I’d say three…that you’ve found, anyway. Guess you’ll have to check all the alleys just in case, won’t you?”

Rafe made a subtle gesture behind her and the door opened to admit two officers.

“Please take Mr. Epcot back to his cell while we corroborate his statement,” Rafe said.

Epcot immediately began to put up a fight as the officers unlocked him from the table. They manhandled him until one of them was able to subdue him enough to get him free from the restraints then the other cuffed him for transport. They dragged him from the room. By now he was screaming at the top of his lungs.

“I killed those bitches, all of them. They asked for it. They all ask for it!”

Rafe could hear his voice reverberating down the hallway as he was taken back to his cell. Dean popped his head around the door.

“Seemed like a nice enough guy,” he said.

“Whether he’s our man or not, he needs to be locked up. Obviously, in his current state of mind women aren’t safe around him.”

“That dude has some serious sibling issues.” Dean chuckled to himself. “It’s no wonder he’s so pissed. I would be if my sister was a better fuck than I was.” He was stopped from making any further comments by Rafe’s censorious look. “I spoke to his girlfriend. She’s picked a right family to get involved with. Seems Epcot’s sister has a thing for bondage and restraints. I’m betting brother dearest has been trussed up like a turkey one too many times. Those kind of traumas leave scars.” He handed Rafe the woman’s statement. “So do you think he could be our guy for the murders? He’s confessed to them.”

“Our killer is leaving a carefully crafted message in the bodies he leaves for us to find. I doubt Epcot could draw a smiley face on a steamy window.” Rafe handed Dean her file. “Check into his background; keep him locked down and away from anything sharp.”

“It would have helped if he’d used his knife. The guys who collared him said it was meticulously clean,” Dean said.

“Then our victim would have been yet another dead woman in an alley. Don’t wish that on us for the sake of closing the case.” Rafe checked her watch and brushed past him. “I have an appointment to keep. Let me know if you find anything out about this guy. He fits part of the profile but not all of it.”

“Come on, Rafe. What are the odds of two crazies running loose in Chicago?” Dean called after her.

About the same as the odds of demons running rampant and my being able to see them as clear as day.

There was nothing more soul-destroying than interviewing the family of a murder victim. Rafe hated having to tell them that the police were doing everything in their power to catch the man who killed their daughter, while Rafe still had no clue as to who he was. She had sat holding the mother’s hands while she sobbed. The father, eyes red-rimmed and face ashen, still bore the haunted look of someone who’d had to identify his daughter’s body. Rafe wondered if the memory would ever fade of how his daughter’s face had been twisted in terror.

Seated at her desk now, she stared unseeing at her computer screen.

“Rafe?” Alona spoke quietly as if unsure whether to break into Rafe’s thoughts. “You okay?”

“I hate dealing with those left behind. Their daughter’s dead, just like the two women before her who left similar families bereft. And we’ve got nothing to show for it. No clues left behind, no identity. Just his ghoulish signature spread out in three different alleys.” She rubbed at her face. “I need him to slip up, but in order for him to do that he has to kill again.”

“There’s nothing on the data stream. If he’s done this before, we’ve got no information on it.”

Rafe peered over her shoulder at the photos left up on the screen. “It’s a very evolved pattern for a first-time killer. He’s already got a signature and everything.”

“Maybe he’s been planning it for a while.”

Rafe nodded. “Maybe. Are you sure there’s nothing like a knifing that even roughly foreshadows this?”

Alona shook her head. “Nothing like what he does. He’s unique, Rafe. And if he did do something before these, then he never got caught and it was never reported. I’ve got bar stabbings, honor killings, and general knife fights, but nothing that matches this M.O.”

“Is Dean still checking out the meat factories?”

“Yeah, he took four uniforms with him to canvass the area of the latest killing. Said he needed company.”

Rafe didn’t envy him his retread of scenes already canvassed.

“Can I ask a question?”

Rafe gave Alona her full attention. “Sure.”

“This PI, is she safe on the streets? I mean, she’s gathering her information from the areas even our guys go into in pairs.”

“She tells me she’s careful,” Rafe replied. “You worried about her?”

“She seems like a really nice lady. I wouldn’t have pegged her for a PI and definitely not one who deals with the occult. I guess if you don’t see what you expect, she could blend in anywhere.”

Rafe bit the inside of her cheek to hold back a bark of laughter that threatened to erupt at Alona’s innocent but accurate remark. To her, Ashley had never blended in at all. Rafe hadn’t been able to ignore her from first sight.

“Do you think she’ll be able to help us with her connections?”

Rafe hoped so. She was desperate for any glimmer of a lead. “Here’s hoping. I’ll take all the help I’m given.”
From this world or the other
.

“Did you see Detective Powell on the ten o’clock news last night?” Alona asked, changing the subject just enough to catch Rafe’s curiosity.

“I swear I’ve never seen a cop so dedicated to getting her face on TV every night.”

“Maybe the city sleeps soundly once she’s told them the police will keep them safe.”

Rafe laughed at Alona’s piqued tone. “I wish she sent me to sleep that easily.”

“The police force needs a friendly face to promote us. After all, the last spokesman we had didn’t do us any favors.”

Rafe grimaced as she recalled the last person designated the force’s public liaison. “Chief Staenberg did make a mess out of his five minutes of fame,” she conceded. “Nothing smells worse than a corrupt cop covering up for his own family.”

“Especially when he knew there was an innocent man in jail for the crime his brother had committed.”

Rafe remembered the case well, and the very public outing on TV. While the chief was trying to report on a successful case brought to a close, he was interrupted by the wronged man’s wife. She had been armed with enough evidence to wreck Chief Staenberg’s career, and did so, on live TV. Rafe hadn’t liked him or held any respect for his position. He had been a blowhard with little thought for the officers under his care. “And now we have Miss America tucking us in every night.” She knew Detective Powell was a good cop in her own right, but all that had been sacrificed for her to issue placating news bites to the general public to lull them into thinking the city was crime-free.

“She’s a good cop,” Alona said. “I like seeing her.”

Rafe snuck a look at a disgruntled Alona. “I bet she doesn’t send you to sleep…” she drawled and grinned as a red tide of embarrassment bloomed on Alona’s face.
So that’s why you defend her honor
. Rafe tried to put a stern look on her face. “Well, if you like her that much, you can liaise with her instead of me having to do it. The woman drives me up the wall.”

Alona stammered. “But…but I can’t…”

“Yes, you can and will, should we ever find anything worth reporting for her to impart to her awaiting public.” Rafe settled back in her chair and sighed. “That’s one less thing for me to worry about.” She ignored Alona’s muttering from behind her and checked her watch. She wanted to talk to Blythe but knew she’d be at work, and she didn’t really want to compromise her a second time there. She’d wait until they were both home and then ask if Blythe had any more ideas about this killer. She hated the feeling she was going to get another body before she was going to get any nearer to finding the killer.

*

Ashley wondered just how much longer she should stay with Eli before she could leave without him being unduly suspicious.

“Do you have somewhere else to be, Ashley?” he asked.

So much for being inconspicuous
. She shook her head as she snapped her phone closed and wondered, not for the first time that afternoon, just how many people she could talk to who had no idea, other than what they saw on the news, that there was a serial killer loose in the city. Humans and demons alike were unaware of anything new stirring aboveground. “I’m getting nowhere. No one knows who this guy is or has any idea
what
he is.” She gave Eli a pointed stare. “Do you have any news from a higher source?”

“You know we’re on our own in this, Ashley,” he said.

“What’s the point of all-seeing, all-knowing if you don’t use it to put a stop to evil?”

Eli turned his back on her and looked over the photos for the umpteenth time, studiously ignoring Ashley’s comment. She muttered something under her breath about free will being a pain in the ass, and reached for her jacket.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not getting anything from my contacts, so I’m going to head out to go see if the word on the street is any more informative. I’m not helping anyone sitting in here just staring at the photographs,” she said.

“They tell a story.”

“They tell the story of one sick individual.” She flipped the board over, startling Eli. “I can’t look at their faces anymore. I’m going out.”

“Leave your phone on,” he called after her.

“Like I can ever leave it switched off,” she said over her shoulder irritably before leaving the apartment. She checked the time on her watch and wondered if Rafe was in her office or out canvassing the areas with Detective Jackson in search of this elusive shadow dancer. She paused before pressing the elevator button. Could they be looking for the type of demon who haunted the dark areas of the night and only stepped out to hunt? She hadn’t come across one of those in years. Those types of demons were rare and extremely difficult to track down. She’d never seen one kill for sport, and couldn’t remember the last time one actually killed a human. They preferred animal prey.

Ashley was more than a little frustrated. This killer wasn’t exhibiting the usual traits that demons did. Maybe he was just human after all, but that didn’t explain her being brought in. She was always placed on a case for a specific reason. She pressed the elevator button, wondering what the catch was this time around. Demon or not, she had been brought to Chicago for a reason. If it was just so she could meet Rafe, she would have preferred a more traditional introduction, something with a lower body count between them. She wondered at Eli’s involvement. He always had his reasons; she was just never aware of them until after the fact, and she’d learned not to question. She was questioning it all this time. Something wasn’t right, and she didn’t think this series of events had been set in motion just so she could meet the woman of her dreams.

Rafe wasn’t surprised to find Ashley waiting for her on the bench opposite the Chicago PD. She was more surprised by the feeling of peace that surrounded her heart. A grin formed unbidden and Rafe had no way of stopping that either. She watched as Ashley rose from her seat and negotiated the traffic to come meet her.

“I’m glad you took my call to spring you out of work and saved me the job of dragging you out of there. I wondered if you’d care to join me tonight on a stakeout?”

Rafe’s hopes soared. “You have something?” Her excitement deflated at Ashley’s apologetic expression.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get your hopes up. I just wanted you to come see where I work.”

“Sure. I’m not doing anything tonight. I had plans to work late, but Dean took over what I was aiming to do once he knew it was you on the phone. He all but ushered me to the door. I understand why everyone is still walking around on eggshells with me, but I’m
okay
.”

“Take it easy while you can. Your partner won’t always be willing to cover for you. Make the most of his generosity and spend the evening with me because of it.”

Smiling, Rafe had to admit she liked the sound of that. “Even after last night? I’m surprised you are willing to risk it after my latest jackass performance.”

Ashley linked her arm through Rafe’s. “Which is exactly why I’m taking you to eat first. I will also be policing your intake of alcohol and painkillers and then will keep you beside me at all times during the evening while I show you the sights.”

“Sounds good to me,” Rafe said, then qualified, “The food and the company bit at least. I’m not so sure I like your side of the city after seeing where you’re staying.” She leaned in to Ashley and kept her voice low. “The air is weird there.”

Ashley’s eyes widened. “You really
are
sensitive.” She tugged Rafe into motion and led her up the street. “The air is different because it’s a demon hub.”

“A demon what?”