Too busy kissing her, huh?
Although he didnt answer, Billys remark cemented the point that what had happened between them tonight couldnt be repeated. I checked out her closet and her armoire. He blew dust from a bright-green mug. She claims nothings missing. I convinced her to go through them again.
Thatll take time. Billy chuckled. Cmon Rick. Youre a female, you look like Vanessa, you shop. He paused before returning his attention to the computer. Whyd you kiss her?
He wasnt going to let this go. She grabbed my hair, okay? At the old mans sideways look, Rick shrugged and poured. I was thinking about kissing her. Wanted to, was fighting it. I got close, knowing I shouldnt. She did the rest.
Knew I liked her. Beaming now, Billy sat back. His gaze lingered on the monitor. Smart eyes, smart woman. Youre gonna have your hands full with this one, Rick.
Yeah. Rick drank, managed not to wince. I just hope the same can be said for the killer.
HE SAT ACROSS FROM A CHURCH, alone and shaking. He couldnt work up the courage to move closer. Maybe he could kneel on the steps outside. God would understand. Hed been through the same thing Himself, hadnt He?
An eye for an eye, that was the deal.
The rage flared in an instant, so intense it made him tremble. It bubbled in his veins. He would shoot her in the eye if he could. Half blind her before she died. God would guide him as always.
Thou shalt not kill a small voice whispered in his head.
No! He put his palms to his ears and pressed them tight. An eye for an eye, he repeated. And said it and said it until all he could see were Vanessa Connors gold-colored eyes.
Chapter Three
Wheeling and dealing. Thats what it came down to in the end. She could be part of the investigationofficially Federal Agent Rick Maguires investigationso long as she gave him her full cooperation.
Vanessa had been a cop long enough to know how the city wheels turned, how deals were struck. How Terence Palmers mind worked.
So she propped her eyes open, drank four cups of coffee, shoved all thoughts of hot kisses and Rick Maguires sexy mouth from her head and went through both her closet and her armoire again. Twice. The surprise came near the end of her second search.
One little black dress missing, she informed Rick the next day. Theyd hooked up in Captain Palmers office. The unfortunate captain was at a meeting with the mayor. Its an older dress, thats why I didnt miss it at first.
Rick made a note on his handheld PC. Can you describe it?
Black jersey, clingy, with a deep V-neck. Its a mini. At his slanted look, a smile blossomed. Theyre fair to wear until youre thirty-five. Im twenty-nine.
He glanced at her legs, clad in stonewashed denim today, but said nothing.
He continued to enter far more information than shed offered. Patient by nature, she perched a hip on the captains desk. She wore a sleeveless white T with a black vest to cover her shoulder holster. Swinging a booted foot, she waited, stopped herself from fantasizing twice and finally nudged his leg. I dont know what youre putting in there, but I havent said half that much since I got here.
Im running a comparison.
Which suggests that my friends had stuff stolen from their closets, too. Same sort of thing?
He finished his input and closed the file. I only have one comp so far. Deirdre Morton itemized her clothes and supplemented the list with photos.
Youre joking.
She even had a catalog system for socks and underwear.
Lingerie. When his brows came together, she grinned. Women wear lingerie, Rick. Men and children have underwear. What was missing?
A red spandex dressalso a miniwith about fifty zippers on it.
Sounds appropriately slutty. But she had to wonder why the killer had taken that particular item. What was Deirdre wearing when they found her?
Rick hit more keys and handed her the PC.
He hadnt spared her. The photo of Deirdre in death had been taken at the scene. There was blood pooled on the ground and pieces of trash scattered around her head. She lay facedown, her white-blond hair askew and a long purple dress twisted around her body.
Blanking her reaction, Vanessa returned the computer. She liked long flowy things in college. I think she pictured herself as a sophisticated Parisian model.
From sophisticated model to zippered spandex.
We all have our moods, but thankfully most of us change with the times. Im told people walked around San Francisco wearing bathrobes and sandals in the late sixties.
When he set his eyes on hers, Vanessa felt a faint blush warm her cheeks. God help her, shed need to do something about that if they were going to work together.
Have you changed since college, Vanessa?
She worked on the blush. More than you can imagine, and thats all Im saying right now. Its after noon. Bobby Valleys associate said he only shows up at the spa for a few hours a day.
A spa on Haight Street. Ricks eyes glinted with humor. Should be an interesting meeting.
Vanessa preceded him through the noisy bullpen and down the stairs to the street. Willpower kept her eyes off his mouth and her mind on their goal. They had to start somewhere, and one of the people she and the victims all had in common was a man named Robert Valley. Hed been a self-defense instructor when theyd gone to Berkeley. Now, he claimed to own and operate a day spa in Haight-Ashbury.
Settled in Ricks car, Vanessa flipped through her notes. Marys Massage Parlor is now the Robert Valley Spa and Wellness Center. I cant see displaying a sign like that on Haight Street.
Rick glanced over. What was he like?
Buff, she decided after a moment. But only at first glance. He was flabby around the middle. I remember thinking that was odd for a self-defense master. And he smelled like fried chicken. It put me off. At his skeptical look, she moved a shoulder. I like the smell of clean, okay? Its a quirk.
Rick smelled better than clean, she thought. His hair, his skin, his clothesResolute, she set her mind back on Bobby Valley.
What else do I remember about him? Hed be in his early forties now, I guess.
Forty-seven.
So he was thirty-seven when we went to college? Bit of a pervert, then.
Did he hit on you?
He hit on all of us every chance he got, but me least of all. I think he knew he grossed me out. Plus I had a boyfriend.
David Matthew Dunlop.
Indignation swelled. Do I have any private life left?
Where Berkeleys concerned, no. You did three years of college, had one boyfriend for two of those years. Graduation day arrived, you left for Rotterdam where your mother lived, Dunlop moved to San Jose. You never got back together. More the fool David D.
Vanessa had her teeth bared until his last remark. It mollified her enough that she conceded, He didnt like my choice of careers. I was supposed to take a cue from my mother and go into law. She died that summer while we were cruising down the Rhine. When I got home, I enrolled at the police academy. David stayed in San Jose, college became a fond memoryand were way off topic, here. David didnt murder anyone. Bobby Valleys another story.
Did any of your friends go out with Valley?
Deirdre and Sylvia Porter did. More than once. Captain Palmers searching for Sylvia.
So are we.
Vanessa couldnt stop the feline smile. Thatll scare the hell out of her.
Didnt like her, huh?
She tried to steal my boyfriend.
Sounds bitchy.
You could say. Even Deirdre never stooped that low.
Was this David guy a jock?
You made jock sound like jerk. He was into sports, yes, but we were talking about Bobby.
When Rick cast her a half-lidded look, Vanessa found herself wanting to reach over and erase the crease that had formed between his eyes.
Very bad idea, her brain warned. Hands off; focus on; no more kissing.
She released a breath, willed the cars AC to cool her suddenly warm skin. Okay, so Bobby Valley was a minor perv who dated two of the five girls in our group. Back then, he taught self-defense courses off-campus. Now he owns a spa. A highly questionable one, Im thinking. He
Were there ever more than five?
Excuse me?
In your group.
Ah, well, lots of girls came and went, but only the five of us were there from start to finish. Which appears to be relevant for reasons I still cant fathom. As far as Im aware, we had Bobby and one professor in common.
Thats it, just the two men? Your old boyfriend doesnt factor into this?
Daves not a murderer, so yes, just the two men. Unless you count our male classmates, which I suppose well have to.
Weve checked out a long list of those classmates, Vanessa. So far theres nothing to implicate any of them. The investigations ongoing by the department.
There you go then. She hesitated. As for other factors, you might want to add Orrin OMalley to the list.
Why does that name sound familiar?
Hes Sandy Lewiss cousin and currently the deputy mayor of San Francisco.
Ah, right. I met him briefly. Hes a dork.
Thats today, Rick. In college, Orry was considered a troublemaker. At the very least, he was unconventional. She gestured at a parking spot. Bobbys place is two blocks from here. Id arm my vehicle if I were you.
The heat slapped her as she stepped out. Pictures of Bobby Valley and now Orrin OMalley swam in her head. Shed forgotten about Orry O. Then again, shed forgotten a lot of things about college, things shed rather not remember, but would with clarity by the time this investigation ended.
Resisting an urge to tug at her top, Vanessa adjusted her sunglasses and waited for Rick to lock up and join her.
Ive always liked Haight-Ashbury, she confessed, doing a circle on the sidewalk. Its got a unique vibe.
I remember it.
She lifted the glasses. You know San Francisco?
Lived here as a teenager. You dont want the details.
Thats what he thought. But a loud squeal issuing through an open door prevented her from asking. There were shouts punctuated by pockets of silence. It depended on which entranceway they passed.
Across the street, boards had been nailed across the ground floor windows of a derelict building. Two floors above, Vanessa spied a bedsheet hanging next to several foil-covered panes.
That place could use a search.
Rick let his gaze rise. If your search comes up empty, check out the neighboring apartments. The obvious one might be a red herring.
My but youre a clever Fed. She tickled his shoulder. Were you a clever teen as well?
Ask Billy.
Who?
A wise old man, my mentor in a way.
The smell of sweat, sex and dying flowers wafted out of the next doorway. Vanessa grinned. Says Haight Street spa to me.
A woman in a muumuu watched them as they entered. Goldfish swam in dirty faux stone ponds. Water dribbled into them along algae-green walls. The potted plants near the door were thriving. The ones farther inside had turned a sickly shade of yellow. The carpet was red, the front desk covered with smears, and the woman behind it reeked of dollar store perfume.
Youd be the cops, then.
Good spot. A series of thumps and groans issued from a room to Vanessas left. Sounds like your massages get kind of rough.
The woman didnt bat an eyelash, merely shrugged a massive shoulder and leaned on the smudged counter. You want Bobby, hes in his office. Down there. She pointed away from the noisy room. Knock before you go in.
You were awfully quiet back there, Vanessa remarked as they left.
Rick scratched his throat. I think I recognize her. She used to own the place.
Vanessa peered around his arm. Thats Mary?
Pretty sure.
Really. I pictured more of a Mae West character. You know, very voluptuous and sexy. She halted so abruptly that Rick bumped in to her. Wait a minute. You recognize her? Vanessas gaze went from Rick to Mary and back. Seriously?
Adolescence, hormones, cheap sex. Setting his hands on her shoulders, Rick pivoted her and pushed. This is about you and your friends, not me.
She knocked and at the same time tried to envision a much younger, though undoubtedly still kick-ass sexy, Rick being led into one of the establishments back rooms.
Come, a mans voice said.
Vanessa spotted Bobby instantly. It would have been hard to miss five feet nine inches of overtoasted man, wearing bright orange shorts and a yellow T. Even loose, the shirt failed to conceal the paunch around his midsection.
Mr. Fitness, she said under her breath, then smiled. Vanessa Connor, Bobby. Do you remember me?
You, yes. Him, no.
Agent Maguire, Rick obliged in a pleasant tone. FBI.
Bobbys jaw tightened. He left them standing and took a seat behind his desk. This is about the dead women, isnt it?
His fingers jiggled to an unheard beat. Vanessa held her smile. We have some questions.
Like was I in contact with any of them before they died?
Uh-huh, like that. He still smelled of chicken. Was that possible all these years later? Were you? she prompted when he didnt respond.
He flicked a glance at Rick. No.
Try again, Rick suggested softly.
His fingers jiggled faster. Okay, yes, I saw Deirdre, but only her, no one else. A muscle twitched beside his left eye. Rubbing it, he added, And Sandy. Once. Six months ago. She was visiting Deirdre.
Vanessa wasnt surprised the two women had kept in touch. She was very surprised that Deirdre had maintained contact with Bobby. Where did you see them? she asked.
Dee hashad a place in Malibu. She used it a lot. Her uncle the senator was pushing her to sell. He wanted her to plant herself in Chicago. He didnt care for her lifestyle.
Rick strolled to the window, gazed down into a narrow alley. How involved were you with Ms. Morton?
We were friends. At Ricks over-the-shoulder look, Bobby added a terse, Sometimes we slept together.
Yuck, was all Vanessa could think. Aloud, she said, What about Sylvia Porter?
I havent seen her.
Sure about that? Rick asked, but this time Bobby held firm.