Deadly Desire (Carrington-Hill Investigations Book 2) (4 page)

“What? Nothing to say?” He tried bait
ing the caller, hoping that, if he or she talked, he might recognize a voice, anything that might put an end to the nightmare or prove to him that it was just a prank caller. Even with an unlisted number, he still managed to get anonymous calls every so often from women pledging their undying love. 

The person hung up without uttering
a single syllable.

Collin woke early the next morning to the blare of his alarm clock. He reached for it and slammed his palm on the snooze button before he even glanced at the time. The calls
had continued throughout the night. Each one had given him hope that the person might eventually talk. He’d eventually turned the damn thing off at three in the morning, hoping for at least a few hours of peaceful sleep. He rolled out of the bed, still half asleep, pulled on his favorite cotton sleep pants, bypassed his T-shirt, and then headed for the door. He was going to need coffee today and lots of it if he had any plans of functioning and thinking straight.

Wiping the sleep from his eyes
, he hit the start button on the coffee pot and grabbed a mug. His brother, Drew, back from his early morning run, was leaning against the counter in his sweat-soaked shirt, sipping his orange juice.

“Late night?”

“I worked till the wee hours of the morning trying to pull all the information Sara needed to start her investigation and, when I tried to go to bed, I kept getting phone calls, probably just another round of pranks.”

“
I take it Sara is the investigator you mentioned you were going to see.”

Collin nodded.

“Is this Sara chick a curvy brunette with a hot little body?”

“How do you know what she looks like
? Did you see her yesterday?”

Drew shook his head and lifted his cup toward the row of windows that overlooked the pool. “I’m guessing that’s her.”

Glancing out the window, Collin looked beyond the pool until he spotted her. Sara had a black bag strung across her chest and a can of coffee snuggled in the crook of one arm while she dragged a suitcase, with her other hand, toward the pool house. By the looks of it, the suitcase was winning in the fight.

“Looks like she could use a hand
. Maybe I should go offer.”

Collin grabbed another mug and filled them both. “She’s not a new toy, Drew. She’s here to do a job
, so keep it in your pants.”

Without waiting for a reply
, Collin stepped out onto the patio and walked over to where she stood jamming the key into the lock. 

“Looks like you could use some help.” He handed her one of the mugs and slid his other hand over her
s. Then he wiggled the key and turned it until he heard the unmistakable click. “It’s takes a bit of finesse to get it just right.”

Sara let out a sigh and took a sip of her coffee.  A stain of scarlet appeared on her cheeks. “I decided to take you up on your offer.”

He turned to find her assessing gaze going down the length of his body. A quick big grin stretched his lips, and her face reddened. Yes, doll, you’re busted. “Do I pass?”

“Excuse me?”

He stepped toward her and leaned into her ear as he reached behind her for the bag she’d been struggling with. The scent of roses in the afternoon sun drifted to his nose, and he inhaled before he whispered. “Am I your type?”

He heard her breath hitch and grinned, silently wondering if he could
make her breath hitch again. He grabbed the bag behind her and straightened. Her pretty red blush was replaced with a scowl. He carried the bag inside and to the bedroom, where he left it on the bed and returned to her moments later.

“I guess you’ll do.”

He chuckled. “That bag must have weighed a hundred pounds.” He motioned toward the coffee can in her hand. Even though it looked imported, he couldn’t help his reply. “You know, we have coffee here.”

“Not like this
,” she said over her shoulder as she shrugged out of her coat and tossed it on a nearby chair. She continued to move throughout the small room, testing the locks on the door and the windows. Her face was clouded with unease. “You’re in dire need of better security.”

She pulled the phone from her pocket, dialed
, and placed it against her ear. “Marco, you need to send in the security techs for a major overhaul.” She walked back outside and glanced around the doorframe before entering again. “He’s going to need alarms and cameras, just for starters, and I’d suggest sending someone you trust to work the gate until this is over.”

Sara
stopped in her tracks as she listened. “What? When? Did they take anything?” she asked.

That didn’t sound good. He whispered, “Was there a break-in?”

She nodded and covered the phone with her palm. “Yeah, someone tried to break into our offices but I think our security scared them off.”

More seconds ticked by as she intently listened to whatever Marco was telling her. Finally she released an audible sigh and went back to
giving Marco her demands.

This was the first time he was seeing Sara in action
, taking over like a woman on a mission, and damn if it wasn’t sexy as hell. Her cheeks were flushed; her tiny hands touched everything in her path. He supposed she was right, perplexed why he hadn’t considered his security before. The killer hadn’t threatened to kill him, only his past girlfriends, but he should have figured that it was better to be safe and alive than sorry and six feet under.

While she paced in front of him, it gave him more time to study her. Her
long brown wavy locks swung around her arms with each turn, covering a white bandage attached to her bicep. Her long legs ate up the tiny living room in six steps before she was turning again. The curve of her jeans emphasized her perfectly tight ass, and the slight muscle definition on her arms confirmed that she took good care of herself and possibly even worked out. Her almond-shaped bright blue eyes were outlined by long, thick, black lashes and twinkled every time she made another demand. He didn’t have to guess that she enjoyed being the one in charge. No, he was starting to understand her type. Demanding almost to a fault; calculating and wanting to get her way. Granted, it was for his protection, but he could just imagine how she would be when he showed up with her on his arm to one of the benefits. He instantly knew they were going to have issues. 

She stopped pacing and listened intently
, all the while chewing on her bottom lip. She mumbled yes a few times, then grumbled, “I’m here for the duration.”

She shook her head as though Marco could see her. “I know, but it has to be done if we want to deal with his situation thoroughly and efficiently.” She stiffened
, turned her back to him, and lowered her voice. “I know he isn’t going to like it. Have Lexi explain it to him. He’s just going to have to deal with it.”

Ending the call
, she turned around and lifted the coffee cup to her lips and sipped. “Thanks for the coffee.”

Boyfriend? Fiancé’? Or was she talking about her husband like that?
He opened his mouth to reply and snapped it closed. He nodded, spun on his heel and stormed out of the guest house. It wasn’t the politest thing to do but, he was afraid if he said what was really bothering him, that she might just up and quit. She hurried up behind him as he rounded the pool and grabbed his arm before he could escape the confusing woman who made him rock hard and equally frustrated.

“What’s wrong?”

He lowered his head and took a deep breath before his gaze met hers. “Marco never said one way or the other if you were single, only that you were his choice for my situation. It never even dawned on me that you might be in a relationship.”

Her lips thinned in irritation; her stance turned guarded. “Why would it matter? I’m here for appearances, not the real thing.”

“Either way you look at it doll, how do you think it’s going to reflect on me, or yourself for that matter, that my
girlfriend
is in another relationship. Cause let’s face it….the press wouldn’t have to dig too far to find out the truth if there were a marriage certificate.”

Oh
, he’d pressed her button all right. Not only did Sara like to be in charge, but she didn’t like anyone questioning her judgment to work his case. His jaw twitched as he threw caution to the wind and just blurted out what was really on his mind. “Don’t you think you would be a little jealous seeing your boyfriend hugged up all over another woman in magazines and newspaper articles, even if he claimed nothing was going on and it was just for work?”

She threw her head back and laughed; and was that a snort he
’d just heard? He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. When she came up for air, she covered her mouth. “Sorry, but you never struck me as the jealous type.” She cleared her throat and tried unsuccessfully to mask the smile still on her lips. “I’m single, as in not dating, as in…no one to get jealous.”

He pointed to the pool house. “But I heard you say…”

She nodded slowly, as if just catching on to what he meant.

“I wanted Lexi to explain what was going on to my father, not a boyfriend
, and definitely not a husband. It’s only a matter of time before my dad sees pictures of us together and, trust me when I tell you, you don’t want him on your ass.”

“Why
? Who’s your dad?”

****

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t professional to laugh in her client’s face, but damn, he was funny. Sara tried to cover up the humor she felt at his statement and failed miserably. “Assistant Deputy Director of the FBI.” She shrugged. “You know how it can be with overprotective fathers.”

She watched his
Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. Yep, he was getting the picture…finally. “He doesn’t like it when I make the headlines, and with you…” She motioned up and down his half-clad body. “…we’re going to be in the headlines. I just wanted Lexi to give him a heads-up. If I didn’t, he’d start with a full background check, and you don’t want the FBI in your business. Do you?”

He moved his head from side to side as if releasing the tension in his neck. “I just assumed…”

She waved her hand and rocked back and forth on her heels. “Forget it, just next time ask so you don’t go getting yourself worked up over nothing. I’ll be straight with you.”

He nodded his agreement. “Once you get settled, I’ll meet you in my office. I have that other list you asked for. I’m just going to take a quick shower
, and I’ll be down.”

Her imagination was immediately bombarded with images of
streams of water gliding down his tall, muscular body. Now if she could just keep herself from inappropriately groping him while managing to keep her eye on the job, she’d be just fine.
Arm’s length
, she reminded herself. She turned and started walking back to the pool house. She lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers. “Have fun.”

Chapter 5

Thirty minutes later, she was standing in the doorway to Collin’s office and silently watching as he thumbed through his mail, sorting the letters into piles. She felt like she had that night at the exclusive club, a voyeur of sorts trespassing into someone’s personal space.

“You must be the investigator
,” a deep voice said from behind her.

She turned to find a man with Collin’s facial features staring back at her. “You must be the brother.”

He extended his hand. “Drew Martin, the youngest and better looking of the Martin clan.”

“Sara Johnson.” She chuckled and shook his hand. The similar characteristics between the brothers were uncanny. High cheekbones, tanned skin
, and the brightest, clearest eyes; eyes that could see clear down to your soul. Drew’s eye color, however, was more of an ocean green versus the vibrant blue of Collin’s eyes. He had a baby face, where the lines on Collin’s face were much more defined. She’d bet women would find him as equally deliciously appealing as his brother and maybe even a bit more charming.

She turned to find Collin watching her with his brow hitched. “Knock it off
, Drew. She could probably kill you with her bare hands and knows more than a hundred different ways to hurt you.”

Drew’s voice was velvety smooth and yet playful at the same time. “That sounds sexy and promising.”
Oh, yeah, he was a definite heartbreaker.

Drew threw his arm over her shoulders. “Don’t worry
, babe. My heart is already spoken for but, if things don’t work out the way I plan, you’re moving to the top of my list.”

Collin’s brows furrowed f
arther as he shook his head and glanced back down at the mail he had left in his hands. His whole demeanor did a one-eighty right in front of her. He abruptly stood, sending the chair whirling into the wall behind him. Blood drained from his face, and the rise and fall of his chest quickened. He dropped the rest of the mail on his desk and held up an envelope, just like the ones he’d shown her that day at the office. She wasn’t quick enough to stop him from tearing into the envelope and pulling out the paper, so she rounded the desk, moving to his side to read over his shoulder. And there goes any fingerprint evidence she might have been able to collect. It was now contaminated and probably smeared. She let out an aggravated sigh. “From now on, I’ll be collecting your mail and going through it before anyone else touches it.”

The letter was like the first one. Each individual letter and word was cut from a magazine and glued into place. “I warned you. Number
2.” He flipped to the next page and his hand flew to his mouth. His eyes burned with fury as he tightened his hold on the paper, crinkling it in his hand. She took the paper from him. Printed on the paper was a grainy picture of Collin and a blonde sitting in a coffee shop deep in conversation. An icy chill skirted down her spine.

“Who is she?” Sara asked while studying the photo.

“Tonya.”

“Your old girlfriend Tonya? She was one fine specimen
. I’ll never understand why you two split up,” Drew said still standing at the door.

She ignored the comments from the peanut gallery
, flipped the paper over, noticed it was blank, and flipped it back to study the innocent picture. She looked for any signs to indicate the two might be together. They weren’t holding hands; they were barely smiling. Almost as if they were two strangers on a first date. “When was this taken?”

She glanced up to notice Drew was no longer standing in the doorway. He’d probably left
, bored that she was no longer paying him a lick of attention. “A week ago. I ran into her on Main Street.” His gaze was still riveted to the picture. His features had now turned to stone.

She noticed the moment his eyes started to glaze and snapped her fingers. “I need you to focus
, Collin.”

He nodded
, and a determination settled in his eyes.

“How do you know her?”

“We dated. The breakup was mutual. She didn’t like her life being under a microscope, and I wouldn’t give up all my charity work for her. We went our separate ways.” He pointed down at the paper. “That was the first time I’d run into her in the last five years. She told me she was about to move in with her boyfriend and they were getting married.”

Collin ran his hands through his hair and pulled on the strands. He squeezed his eyes closed. It was evident guilt and anger w
ere prodding at his resolve.

“Do you know where she lives?”

His eyes snapped open, and his brows dipped. “Yeah, if she hasn’t already moved in with the boyfriend.” He rattled off the address. “Do you think there’s a chance she’s still alive?”

It was highly unlikely
, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him that. Not yet, not without knowing for sure. Sara grabbed her phone, fished her keys from her pocket, and spun on her heel. “I don’t know.”

Dread settled in her gut as she ran from the mansion and hopped in her SUV. Her passenger door jerked open and Collin climbed in. “What do you think you’re doing? You need to stay here!”

He pointed down the drive. “You’re wasting time. She might still be alive.”

She threw the SUV in gear
, grabbed the printout of the exposé he’d given her yesterday from the glove box, and handed it to him. “Tell me what numbers Tonya and the teacher are listed as.”

He shuffled the papers. “One and
four, why?”

She pounded her palm against the steering wheel. Nothing made sense, even the order of the kills w
as out of sync. “I’m trying to figure out the killer’s pattern.”

She punched the
Bluetooth in her car, informed Marco what was going on, and she asked him to send a team.

Sara skidded around the next curve and punched the gas. She glanced at him. “Why did the killer skip
two and three? What is the connection between one and four versus two and three?”

He glanced down at the papers
, and she returned her attention back to the road, waiting patiently for him to figure it out. He would be the only one able to connect the pieces. If she pressured him the strain alone might block his reasoning. With wide eyes and his mouth parted, he looked up. “I saw both of them this month.”

She nodded toward the paper. “Who else have you seen on that list in the last thirty days?”

He furrowed his brow as he again went through the faces and names of all of his exes. He pointed at number seven. “Amada George.” He glanced up. “I ran into her at a fundraiser.”

She skidded to a stop at Tonya’s address. The high
-rise was ten stories tall, and the street was unusually quiet. She pulled out her phone. “What’s Amanda’s address?”

When h
e’d told her, she text Amanda’s name and address to Lexi and asked her to pick Amanda up and move her to a safe house. Maybe they could prevent or at least slow down the killer since they now had somewhat of a reasoning behind why the killer was only choosing some of the exes and not all of them. She threw open the glove box, grabbed her Beretta and hopped out of the SUV and ran up to the building entrance. Collin was right behind her. “Collin, you need to go wait in the SUV.”

He shook his head. “Not on your life.”

She reached down and pulled the revolver out of her ankle holster and handed it to him. “There is no safety on this gun, so try not to shoot me.”

He nodded. She took the stairs two at a time until they reached the second floor
, completely bypassing the elevator. She glanced through the little glass window of the exit door, to ensure the coast was clear, before she pulled it open. They hurried down to the door, and she laid her hand on his arm to stop him. She pushed him so his back was pressed against the wall and motioned for him to wait.

There was no
sign of forced entry, no signs of foul play in the hall, so she did the only thing she could. She knocked. No answer. She rang the doorbell. Still no answer.

Movement at the end of the stairwell caught her eye
, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Marco, Vickers, and a blonde woman she hadn’t seen before were headed her way, each with guns drawn. This wasn’t the time to figure out who the woman was. Introductions would have to wait.

“No one answered
,” she whispered.

Marco nodded, got down on one knee
, pulled a tool from his back pocket, and silently picked the lock. It would have been easier just to kick the damn thing down, which she’d been about to try before Marco arrived. With her luck she’d hurt her leg, the door would have been one of those heavy metal fireproof doors.

He grabbed his gun
, straightened, and pushed the door open. It creaked, and she inwardly cringed.
So much for the element of surprise.
She and the team moved, using hand signals as they cleared the living room and kitchen and proceeded down the hall.

The acrid smell of blood and decaying body hit them all at the same time. She glanced back to find Collin had covered his nose and mouth with his shirt. A tear slipped from his lid. He didn’t need to see what she knew was on the other side of the door. She turned and pulled him back out into the open living room while the team advanced.

Minutes ticked by as Collin and she waited on the couch for confirmation that it was indeed too late. He sat with his elbows propped on his knees, his head in his hands. Her heart ached for him. No one needed to go through this. The self-blame alone would destroy lesser men.

Sara
stood and started to move throughout the room with nervous energy. Boxes had been shoved up against walls, all labeled with room names. She moved to the bar that separated the kitchen from the living room. Unopened mail sat on the counter. She noticed the light blinking on the answering machine, a message that would undoubtedly be left unanswered.

Sara glanced over her shoulder as she pulled her long
-sleeve shirt down to cover her fingers and pressed play.

A sweet voice filled the silent room.
“You’ve missed me, so either leave a message or try me on my cell. If you’re a telemarketer, don’t bother.”

A hand clamped down on Sara’s shoulder
, and she jumped. He leaned in closer to the recorder, listening to the silence, waiting to hear a message, trying to find a clue when there wasn’t one to find. The machine recorded nothing but silence until the blaring sound of a disconnected call came on.

“I got a call like that.”

She spun around. “When?”

“The
night before last, right before you moved in.”

“Are you insane? You didn’t think that little bit of information might be important. Do you have a freaking death wish?”

Sara clenched her hands together to stop from smacking him upside the head. Too bad she couldn’t stop her quick tongue from brandishing him like a child. Her comment wasn’t very professional. It reminded her of something her father would do, something he would say. And the thought churned her stomach. She stepped toward him. He stepped back. “I’m sorry, Collin, but you have to tell me stuff like that. Even if you think it doesn’t mean anything.”

He moved back to the couch and plopped down. Damn, she needed to see a doctor, one that could prescribe a drug to stop crap from flying out of her mouth before
alienating everyone she’d ever known.

Marco emerged, the stress lines of his face deepen
ing as he pressed the phone to his ear. “One of mine will bring him in. She’s also undercover as his current girlfriend, so I’d appreciate it if you kept her employment to yourself for the time being.” He clipped the phone closed and shoved it back in his pocket.

Marco nodded with worry in his eyes. She stood and followed him out into the empty hallway. She didn’t have to ask if Tonya was dead
. She could see it in his face. “You need to take Collin down to the sheriff’s office. I’ve informed the sheriff of what we found and they want to question him. They’re sending in their own forensic team to canvas the apartment.”

In a soft voice, one he rarely used, he asked
, “You do know what this means, don’t you?”

“He was right. His ex
es are being targeted for extermination and the killer is most likely a stalker.” She knew exactly what this meant. As if trying to catch a murderer wasn’t bad enough, Collin’s murderer was also a damn stalker, monitoring and following his every move, and that knowledge changed everything.

His brows dipped. “Most of the time stalkers only become violent when they are frustrated and start realizing the object of their affection doesn’t want them. I’m thinking either sociopathic or schizophrenic. Hell
, it could be a combination of both. We don’t know what the hell we’re dealing with” He turned and paced a few steps away and back. “We have to figure out what set the stalker off, why she or he feels threatened by his exes.”

She placed a reassuring palm on his arm. “He’
d seen both of them within the last month. I’m thinking that this psycho has targeted him within that time frame. I think we need to retrace his steps over the last thirty days. He’s only seen one other ex since then, and I’ve texted Lexi and asked her to pick up and move Amanda George into a safe house for the time being until we get this figured out.”