Deadly Storm (21 page)

“Have you found anything?” James asked, striding into his office and glancing over Jake’s shoulder as he worked on the laptop.

“This guy has gotten more tail than a feral cat in springtime,” Jake said.

“Your personality keeps getting louder and louder the more time you spend with my sister.”

“She’s a wonder.”

“You’re a sick pig, too,” James said. “Anything?”

“It’s a huge list,” Jake said. “I think we need to approach this in a different way.”

James waited.

“What was the name of the other guy?”

“What other guy?”

“The one who hit on Mandy right in front of you.”

James made a face. “Oh,
him
.”

“He was your primary suspect first,” Jake reminded him.

“Steven Balish,” James said. “We did kind of let him fall by the wayside when Barnes starting acting like a righteous douche.”

“I still can’t believe you left without hitting him.”

“I might go back.”

Jake grinned. “I’m going to run Steven Balish and see what women I can find in his background,” he said. “If we’re lucky we’ll be able to find someone who took Barnes’ cooking class.”

“What if we’re not lucky?”

“Then we’ve got a really long list to go through,” Jake said.

“Let’s get started then,” James said. “I want this thing settled. I’m not going to be able to relax until I’m sure Mandy is safe.”

“Why wouldn’t she be safe?” Jake asked. “She’s done with the class, isn’t she?”

The look that crossed James’ face was almost comical. “She’s still going.”

“Why?”

“Because she knows it bugs me.”

“Why really?”

“Because she doesn’t want to quit in the middle of the class,” James said. “Now that she’s finished two paintings she’s all about finishing things.”

“When is her next class?”

“Tonight.”

“Are you going to sit in the parking lot and watch her to make sure she gets to her car safely?”

“What kind of husband do you think I am?” James asked.

Jake waited, refusing to answer the question.

“I’m going to wait in the lobby just to be on the safe side,” James conceded.

“And there it is,” Jake said. “I’ll start the search on Balish. Why don’t you start at the bottom of Barnes’ sex list so we don’t overlap?”

“I can’t wait.”

“HOW
was your weekend?” Marian asked, her eyes bright as she sidled up to Mandy.

“It was … a mixed bag,” Mandy replied carefully.

“Is that a sex thing?”

Mandy smiled. “No. James and I had a big fight on Friday so I got drunk with my best friend. Then I had a hangover all day Saturday.”

“Did you and James make up?”

“We did,” Mandy said.

“What did you do Sunday?”

“Um … we just hung around.” Mandy opted to leave out the sweaty and naughty bits from her retelling. “We cooked breakfast, and then we painted a little bit, and then we spent a couple hours in the pool … and hot tub … and on the pool table.”

“On the pool table?”

“I meant we played pool,” Mandy corrected.

“Yeah, I think you’re cleaning it up for my benefit,” Marian said. “Don’t do that, by the way. I like living vicariously through you.”

“I’m not sure how exciting my life is,” Mandy said. “In the grand scheme of things, my life is pretty boring.”

“I need to talk to you right now.”

Mandy jumped as Professor Barnes brushed past Marian and grabbed her arm. “Um … what?”

“I need to talk to you,” Barnes said. “It’s important.”

The inner danger alarm James started instilling in her the moment they started dating began to tick in the back of Mandy’s mind. “Isn’t class supposed to start in five minutes?”

“It can wait,” Barnes said.

“I … what do you want to talk about?”

“It’s private,” Barnes said, glancing at Marian. “We don’t need an audience.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Just out in the lobby,” Barnes said, making a face. “Why are you acting like this?”

“Maybe because people keep dying on this campus,” Mandy replied.

“Oh, grow up,” Barnes snapped. “I don’t want to kill you. I just need to talk to you. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

Mandy was still unsure. “I … .” She blew out a sigh. “Okay, but if you lay one finger on me, I’ll castrate you and then leave you to bleed to death. That’s before my husband gets his hands on you, by the way.”

“That’s exactly why I want to talk to you.”

“ANYTHING?”
James asked, looking up from his computer screen and focusing on Jake.

“I can’t find one tie between Steven Balish and Ben Barnes,” Jake said. “Balish has one sister, but she lives in Ohio. As far as I can tell she’s never been in one of Barnes’ class.”

“What about girlfriends?”

Jake shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. It looks like Balish had a girlfriend last year. Her name was Corinne Harper. They dated three months, but she was never one of Barnes’ students. Harper and Balish fall off each other’s radar pretty quickly and go in different directions. There’s nothing there.”

“Keep looking,” James instructed. “There has to be something … somewhere. If it’s not Balish, that means it had to be one of the two guys who were there before I arrived the night of the storm – and we have no idea who they are.”

“I don’t know what else to do,” Jake said, helpless.

“Try to figure something out,” James said. “I have ten minutes before I have to leave, and we need a break here.”

“WHAT
do you want?” Mandy asked, glowering at Barnes as she kept at least two feet between them.

The lobby was empty – other than the two of them – and Mandy wasn’t especially happy to be stuck there with a man she didn’t fully trust.

“I want to talk to you about your husband,” Barnes said.

“What about him?”

“He’s a menace.”

“You’ll have to be more specific.” Mandy had no idea where Barnes was going with this conversation, but she was uneasy with his vitriol regarding James.

“He came to my house today,” Barnes said. “He had your little friend from the other night with him.”

“What friend? Ally?”

“Is that the hot brunette’s name?” Barnes tilted his head to the side. “That’s a hot name for a hot woman. Yeah, that fits.”

Mandy wrinkled her nose. “She’s spoken for.”

“Yeah, I know,” Barnes said, shaking himself out of his reverie and returning to the moment. “He was with your husband when he stopped by my house today.”

“Why would James stop by your house?”

“Why do you think?”

Mandy shrugged. “He probably thinks you’re a murderer,” she said, nonplussed. “Whoever killed Ann was here the night of the storm. That includes you.”

“Yes, he thinks I’m a murderer,” Barnes said. He thumped his chest. “Me!”

“Well, he obviously doesn’t still think you’re a murderer because, if he did, you’d either be dead or under surveillance,” Mandy said.

“Under surveillance? He can’t do that. He’s not a cop.”

“He’s a security expert,” Mandy said. “He runs surveillance on people all of the time. That’s what he does for a living.”

“He’s watching me?” Barnes glanced around the lobby, nervous. “Why would he be watching me?”

“I … .”

Barnes didn’t give Mandy a chance to answer. “You know, Mr. Muscles mentioned something about seeing me on a date Saturday night. He was watching me. He made fun of … I mean he seemed impressed with my sexual prowess. He must be a pervert to sit there and watch another man have sex – especially when someone does it as long and hard as I did.”

Mandy cocked an eyebrow, not sure which part of the statement bothered her most. She decided to dive right in. “Who is Mr. Muscles? Is that what you’re calling Jake?”

“That’s the hot brunette’s boyfriend, right?”

Mandy nodded.

“Then that’s him.”

“Okay,” Mandy said, tamping her irritation down. “Are you saying Jake followed you and watched you have sex? Why would he do that?”

“He claims it was because he thought I was going to murder her,” Barnes said. “I think he’s just a pervert, though.”

“How would he be able to see into your house and see you do it? Oh, wait, was this Saturday night? He told us he saw you having sex with a student in the cooking classroom. That’s gross, by the way. That’s not very sanitary.”

“Don’t be such a prude.”

“Why does everyone keep calling me that?”

It was a rhetorical question, but Barnes obviously didn’t realize that. “Because you’re hot … and in a dirty way. People look at you and expect you to be a freak in the bedroom.”

“You’re really disgusting.”

“Whatever,” Barnes said, rolling his eyes. “I’ve heard that enough for one day.”

“I still don’t understand why you pulled me out here,” Mandy said. “Shouldn’t we go back so you can start class?”

“Screw class,” Barnes said. “No one cares about that stupid class. The men are there to pick up the women, and the women are there to snag a man. The only one who actually cares about cooking is you – which I think means you’re probably bad in bed and you think this is the only way to hold onto your husband.”

Mandy smacked him across the face. Hard.

“What was that for?” Barnes grabbed his cheek.

“You’re a pig,” Mandy said.

“So what? I never said I wasn’t. There’s a reason I teach cooking at a community college. How many times do I have to tell you people that?”

“I’m so done with this class,” Mandy said, taking a step back. “I should have listened to James. Wow. I said it. I should’ve listened to my husband. He’s never going to let me live this down.

“He told me I didn’t need to take a cooking class and I got it in my head that I did,” she continued. “I thought it was going to make me a better wife. Of course, that was before I knew the professor was a skeevy pervert and I realized James wasn’t lying when he said he was perfectly happy with naked takeout.”

“Every man is happy with that, honey,” Barnes shot back.

“Shut your mouth,” Mandy snapped, wagging her finger in his face. “You are a sick man. I have no idea if you’re a murderer or not, but I’m betting you don’t have the stones to be one.”

“Do you want me to show you my stones?” Barnes asked, reaching for his belt. “I have huge stones!”

“If you undo your pants I’m going to call my husband,” Mandy threatened. “He’ll beat you to within an inch of your life.”

“I’ll scream and he’ll be arrested.”

“That won’t stop him … and he knows where you live.”

Barnes made a face, conflicted. “I don’t want any more trouble from your freaky husband. I don’t want any more trouble from you either, while we’re at it. I want you out of this class. You’re kicked out.”

“You can’t kick me out. I already quit.”

“I’m in charge,” Barnes said. “I say who quits and who is kicked out … and you’re kicked out.”

“Oh, just … bite me.”

“I would, but I hear you’re bad in bed,” Barnes said.

Mandy smacked him again, just because she could.

“If you hit me one more time I’m going to hit you back,” Barnes said.

“Go ahead,” Mandy replied. “I’m guessing you hit like a girl.”

“That did it!” Barnes put his hands to his hips. “I’m going to file a formal complaint in the registrar’s office and they’re going to send you a sternly-worded email, missy. What do you think of that?”

“I think you’re an idiot.”

Barnes was haughty. “That shows what you know,” he said. “Hundreds of people have told me that before you. It’s not like you’re the smart one who figured it out first.”

There was nothing Mandy could do but roll her eyes. “Listen, if it makes you feel better, you can kick me out of class. I’m going to go back and get my purse … and then I’m out of here.”

“Good,” Barnes said. “You’re a horrible cook anyway. I don’t want to be sued if you poison someone.”

“You’d better start running now,” Mandy said. “If you don’t shut your mouth I’m going to slap you again.”

“Like you could catch me,” Barnes hissed, although he warily took a step away from the feisty blonde. “I’m not scared of you.”

“Then you’re dumber than you look.”

“That’s not even possible.”

“I have to go,” James said, getting to his feet. “I should’ve left five minutes ago. I want to make sure I’m there when that class lets out. I don’t trust Barnes to leave Mandy alone.”

“Dude, I don’t think he’s a murderer,” Jake said. “He’s a pervert, there’s no doubt about that, but I don’t think he’s got the stomach to kill someone. Strangling a woman is one of those things that has to be done up close and personal. He’s too weak to do that.”

“You’re probably right,” James said. “That doesn’t mean Balish isn’t in that building, though.”

“I understand,” Jake said. “Text me when you have her … just so I know. Are you going to come back here?”

“No,” James said. “I’m going to take Mandy home and … spend some quality time with her.”

Jake pursed his lips to keep from laughing. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”

“Yes,” James said. “Just like I believe you’re going to go home and read a book with my sister.”

“Ah … gotcha,” Jake said. “Have a good night.”

“How long are you staying?”

“Just another half hour or so,” Jake said. “I want to finish my current search. We’ll hit it hard tomorrow.”

“I just need to convince Mandy to quit that class,” James said. “I wonder if I can bribe her.”

“Buy her a shark,” Jake suggested.

“If I thought that would work, I would,” James said. “I need to figure something out. I can’t go through another night worrying about her in that class.”

“You just don’t want to eat anything she cooks,” Jake said. “Ally told me what her soup looked like, by the way.”

“Mandy told me what her soup looked like, too,” James said. “The sad thing is, I probably would’ve eaten it.”

“Even though you knew it would make you sick?”

“Love is a funny thing,” James said. “Speaking of that … .”

The two men stilled when the bell jangled over the front door.

“I’ve got it,” Jake said, getting to his feet. “Don’t worry about it. Go to Mandy.”

“Thanks. I owe you a four-day weekend now,” James said.

Instead of a client, James and Jake found Sophie in the lobby when they walked through the door.

“What are you doing here?” James asked, surprised.

“I got the final autopsy result on Ann,” Sophie said. “There’s something here you guys need to see.”

James exchanged a look with Jake.

“Go,” Jake said. “I’ll get the information from Sophie and then text it to you.”

“How big is it?” James asked.

“Big,” Sophie said.

James sighed. “Can you tell me in less than five minutes?”

“Yes.”

“Go.”

“YOU
can’t quit,” Marian said, following Mandy out into the lobby after the blonde retrieved her purse.

“Well … I am,” Mandy said. “I’m sorry, Marian. I really am. I like you. Maybe we can set up a time to have coffee next week or something. How does that sound?”

“But … you’re my only friend in this class,” Marian said. “What am I going to do without you?”

“Whatever you do, make sure you stay away from Professor Barnes,” Mandy said. “He’s … not a nice man.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s a disgusting pig,” Mandy said. “He only teaches this class so he can get the students into bed. He’s … disgusting.”

“How do you know that?”

“Let’s just say I have inside information and leave it at that,” Mandy said, slinging the strap of her purse over her shoulder. She leaned forward and gave Marian a brief hug. “I’m sorry this didn’t work out. You have my number. If you want to get coffee, I would love to see you.”

“But … .”

“I can’t stay here,” Mandy said. “I have to go. I hope things work out well for you in this class, and I hope you get everything you’re looking for.”

“I do, too,” Marian said, straightening her shoulders. “I think I know how to do it now.”

“WHAT
do you have?” James asked.

“It’s big,” Sophie said. “It seems that Ann Nelson did not have sex with a man before she was killed.”

“I actually knew that,” James said. “We talked to Professor Barnes today. He said all they did was tongue each other and then Ann got distracted and left him hot and bothered.”

“I said she didn’t have sex with a man,” Sophie said pointedly.

James made a face. “Are you saying she had sex with a woman?”

“No, I’m saying that whatever Ann had sex with that night … um, well … it wasn’t a human,” Sophie said.

“Expand,” James ordered. “Do it quickly. I have to pick up Mandy at her cooking class.”

“She’s still going?” Sophie was incredulous.

“Later, Sophie,” James said.

“Sorry,” Sophie said. “I’m saying that fluids weren’t found because whatever was inside Ann wasn’t part of a man. It was a … foreign object.”

“Like a … vibrator?” Jake asked, grimacing.

“No,” Sophie said. “If it was a vibrator I wouldn’t be tiptoeing around the subject. That would be easy to explain.”

“What was it?”

“The coroner thinks it was the handle of a flashlight,” Sophie said. “One of those ones that is big enough to hang off your keychain but still small enough not to get in the way while you’re driving. There were … specific markings … inside of her.”

“That sounds horrible, but I’m not sure what to do with that,” James said. “Does that mean the killer can’t get it up? Is this like a phallic thing?”

“No,” Sophie said. “The DNA on the skin cells found on Ann came through, and while there wasn’t a match in the system, there was something else interesting about the sample.”

“What?”

“It was from a female.”

James stilled. “Are you saying a woman killed Ann and Julie?”

“I’m saying that’s what it looks like,” Sophie said. “Whoever it was left a hair on Ann. Do you know anyone with red hair that came from a bottle? I believe they identified it as Miss Clairol 108, to be exact.”

James tilted his head to the side, his mind busy. “Red hair?”

“Yes.”

“Barnes said that there were some women in multiple cooking classes,” James said, turning to Jake. “He said he tried to make his way through all the women in the class.”

“He sounds like a real prince,” Sophie said.

James ignored her. “Look at that list. Is there anyone named Marian on it?”

Jake scanned the list, moving his finger down it as he read. “Um, yeah. There’s a Marian Jessup. She took Barnes’ class last semester and she’s in Mandy’s class now. Why?”

“She’s in her thirties,” James said. “She was obsessed with the story of how Mandy and I got together. She acted … desperate … to have her own love story.”

“You think that Marian Jessup is killing the women Barnes is sleeping with to eliminate the competition, don’t you?” Jake asked.

“I think that’s exactly what she’s doing,” James said, digging into his pocket for his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Warning Mandy.” James pressed the phone to his ear and waited. When the call went straight to voicemail he swore under his breath. “It’s me, wife. Do not leave that classroom until I get there. I’m on my way now. Whatever happens … stay away from Marian. She’s the murderer.” He started to pull the phone away but stopped. “I love you, baby. I’m on my way.”

Jake was already moving in James’ direction when he disconnected.

“What are you doing?” James asked.

“We’re both going,” Jake said. “Two heads … and guns … are better than one.”

“Let’s go,” James said. “I have a feeling we’re already too late.”

MANDY
fumbled in her purse as she searched for her keys, her mind a jumble of scenarios. If Barnes wasn’t guilty, did that mean Steven Balish was? Who else could it be? Were they looking in the wrong direction the whole time?

Mandy was so lost in thought she didn’t register the sound of footsteps until they were almost upon her. She turned swiftly, ready to defend herself if it came to it, and came face to face with Marian.

“You scared me,” Mandy said, pressing her hand to her heart. “You walk like a cat. Make a noise or something.”

Marian smiled, although the expression didn’t make it all the way up to her eyes. She looked … odd. She was gripping her own set of keys tightly, and Mandy didn’t miss the flashlight dangling off the key ring.

“Did you have that the night of the storm?”

“What?”

“The flashlight on your key ring,” Mandy said. “That would have come in handy when we were trying to get out of the classroom the other night.”

“I forgot I had it,” Marian said, her voice low.

“Oh, well, I guess that makes sense,” Mandy said. “Did you decide to quit the class, too? Is that why you’re out here?”

“That’s not why I’m out here.”

Mandy waited. When Marian didn’t volunteer further information, she shuffled uncomfortably. “Marian, is something wrong? You look … upset.”

“I am upset,” Marian said.

“Did Professor Barnes do something to you? Did he say something suggestive? He’s such a pervert. Don’t worry. I’ll tell James. He’ll handle him. We’ll go to the school board and get him fired if we have to.”

“Don’t you even think about it,” Marian hissed.

Mandy froze, the harsh tone of Marian’s voice causing her to involuntarily shudder. Something was very wrong here. “I … um … I should really be going.”

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“Marian … .”

“Shut up,” Marian ordered. “Just … shut your stupid mouth.”

“What’s going on?” Mandy asked, shuffling sideways because she couldn’t take a step backward. The car was at her back, and there was no escape in that direction.

“I know what you are,” Marian said. “I know what kind of person you are. I know what you’ve done.”

“What have I done?”

“You seduced my boyfriend.”

“I’m pretty sure I did nothing of the sort,” Mandy said.

“Don’t you lie to me!” Marian exploded, her finger shaking as she wagged it in Mandy’s face. “You slept with Ben. That’s why he wanted to talk to you outside of class. You wanted to make another date, and even though he told you he was involved with me, you just kept pressing him. That’s why he had to kick you out of class.”

“That is … crazy,” Mandy said, looking Marian up and down. As far as she could tell the woman was unarmed. Of course, since Marian was rapidly losing her cool – and apparently her mind – Mandy wasn’t leaving anything to chance. “I didn’t sleep with Professor Barnes.”

“You did. I know it. I saw you two outside of the classroom together. You were practically throwing yourself at him.”

“Yeah, that’s not what happened,” Mandy said. “He wanted to talk to me because James questioned him about his ties to Ann Nelson and Julie Nichols today. He wanted to make sure James didn’t think he was a murderer.”

“Of course he’s not a murderer,” Marian scoffed. “He’s a good man. Actually, he’s the perfect man.”

Things started to shift into place for Mandy, and she didn’t like the picture that was clearing. “You killed Julie and Ann, didn’t you?”

“They had it coming,” Marian snapped. “They were both sluts. They seduced my boyfriend. What was I supposed to do?”

“Have you been … sleeping with Barnes?”

“No,” Marian replied, rolling her eyes. “We’re in love.”

Mandy was pretty sure any love manifesting in this equation was purely of the crazy kind, and totally from Marian’s end. “How long have you been dating?” She had to keep the woman talking until she could think of a way to escape.

“Since last semester,” Marian said. “I knew the second I walked into his class that we were destined to be together. It was kismet.”

“I … this is the second class you’ve taken with Barnes?”

“Of course,” Marian said. “He wants me to be close to him. We have to pretend we’re strangers so the other students don’t get jealous … but in private, well, we’re in love.”

Mandy rubbed the heel of her hand against her forehead, flustered. “Marian, I think you need to take a deep breath and calm down,” she said. “We can talk about this. It’s not too late to … make this right.”

It
was
too late to make it right, but Mandy was desperate for Marian to regain some sense of self. If she didn’t, one of them was going to get hurt. Mandy wasn’t in the mood to kill someone if she didn’t have to, but she was prepared to defend herself.

“I didn’t make things wrong,” Marian said. “Someone should’ve told you when you were growing up that it’s not okay to go after someone else’s boyfriend.”

“I didn’t touch your boyfriend,” Mandy said. “I’m married. Remember?”

“Your poor husband,” Marian said, clucking sadly as she shook her head. “He’s dedicated to you, and you’ve been cheating on him with my boyfriend. What kind of a person does that?”