Romana bit her lip, glanced at the phone. She should call Jacob. Or-well, maybe not. No, she really should.
Frustration escaped on a sigh. Yes, no, maybe-what she really wanted to do was scream. Then call him.
Her fingers tapped the countertop. Of course, he could have called her. How did he know she knew about his neighbor? She also had no idea when he wanted to leave for the mall. Or why her blatantly sexual dreams about him were beginning to disrupt her thought processes.
Actually, that was one question she probably could answer, if she allowed her thoughts to veer in that direction. The problem was, she wasnt sure shed like the answer, or the other, more disturbing questions that would accompany it.
Actually, that was one question she probably could answer, if she allowed her thoughts to veer in that direction. The problem was, she wasnt sure shed like the answer, or the other, more disturbing questions that would accompany it.
Damn you, Knight. What secrets are you hiding in that gorgeous head of yours?
While Fitz hunted noisily for the ladder, Romana set her elbows on the counter, plunked her chin in her hands and debated. She was glaring at the handset when her cousin gasped.
What? Reacting automatically, she grabbed a spatula and darted into the living room.
Shed been expecting a spider since Fitz was terrified of anything with more than four legs. Instead, she found her cousin staring at the computer screen.
You had an envelope. I opened it.
Romana stared with her-and felt an icy finger of fear glide along her backbone.
A color image glowed on the monitor. The subject of the picture was positioned exactly as Belinda Critch had been in death. Unlike Belinda, however, she was lying naked in the alley where Critch had tried to shoot Jacob. Mistletoe leaves were scattered around her. Some of them floated in the blood that had seeped from the wound in her chest. Half-lidded gray-blue eyes stared at them, cloudy and dull, like the eyes of a very old doll.
Her eyes, Romana realized through a layer of shock. Winter-lake blue, and just as dead as Belindas had been.
Directly beneath the photo, a single word wafted across the screen.
Soon
Chapter Six
Jacob needed to punch something. Not because he was angry but out of sheer frustration. In three nights hed had three dreams about Romana, and shed been naked in all of them.
Thered been other dreams as well, long-accepted nightmares that left him tense and wanting a drink, but never ones that absorbed him so completely that nothing he thought or did could shake their hold on him.
At 7:00 p.m., pumped on caffeine and with a gym bag over his shoulder, he walked through the door of the Riverside Gym. So many officers frequented the place that over the years it had become their off-duty training center.
Thankfully, Christmas wasnt the busiest time of year. Jacob spied a handful of his cohorts, sweating, grunting and adjusting weight machines, but he wasnt going for weights tonight. He wanted his workout fast, painful and exhausting as hell. It was the only hope he had of dousing his desire for Romana. He aimed a narrowed look at the ceiling. God help him, this wasnt a thing he needed right now.
Circling the floor mats, he headed toward the change room. A man whod been beating up on a large bag stopped when he spied him. The leather took a last vicious punch as he called out to Jacob.
You looking for a self-defense partner, Knight?
The rooms echo gave his tone an extra whip of anger. Jacobs lips curved, but he didnt alter his stride.
Ive got ten years on you, Hoag.
Dylan rounded the bag, began untying his gloves. The year count between us is only six, as I recall.
Street years count differently. But Jacob halted, unzipped his jacket. Considered. You want to fight out your mad?
My mad, my hostility, my contempt for a judicial system that favors cops above all others.
Anticipation kindled in Jacobs belly. Were on our own time, he reminded. I wont hold back.
Wouldnt want you to. Despite the acid in his voice, Dylans face remained a blank canvas. I might have washed out at the Academy, but I havent been sitting around mourning the loss. In fact, he dropped his boxing gloves on the floor, I dont see it as a loss at all these days.
Yes, he did, Jacob thought, because as a cop hed have had easy access to his sisters file. Hed also have had the means to investigate any and all claims made at the hearing.
With a shrug he replied, Up to you, Hoag. Street rules.
Dylans fists balled. What does that entail?
The light of anticipation flared as Jacob paused in the doorway to look back. Means no rules at all.
HES NOT HERE, ROMANA. OKeefe pressed weary fingers to his eyelids. If hes not answering his cell phone, I dont know what to tell you.
Hes not answering any phone. She perched on the edge of OKeefes desk and tried not to notice the bags developing under his eyes. But there is something you can tell me.
Shoot.
How did you spend your New Years Eve nine years ago?
OKeefe raked the hair from his temples. Nine years. I dont Ah, wait, maybe I do. Gilhoolies Pub?
Thats the one. Romana wasnt sure why she felt guilty when he was the one whod been spotted going upstairs with Belinda Critch, but it probably had to do with a friends loyalty and the sense that shed let herself believe a strangers story just a little too readily.
With no way back, however, she waded in deeper. James Barret saw you with Belinda Critch, Mick. Handing money to the proprietor, going upstairs.
OKeefes hands fell and with them, Romanas hopes. Shed wanted him to deny it, to be disappointed at her lack of faith. She absolutely did not want him to look at her with those big dog eyes of his and offer a sheepish grin.
Weak as water, Romana, thats me. Or was nine years ago. His chair creaked as he leaned back. My wife and I were- well, lets be civilized and say we were having problems. I was drunk, and Belinda was there, coming on to me.
Shed come on to James Barret, as well, yet Barret had managed to stay downstairs. Belinda and Critch had only been married for eighteen months, Mick. He was still buying her presents, sending flowers to the lab.
Nothing happened.
I- Romana blinked in surprise. Nothing? As in no sex?
I couldnt-you know, get it up. God, it was embarrassing. Still is. He kneaded his eyebrows. Anyway, she got annoyed and started flouncing around the room. She said shed wasted her New Years Eve. There were other parties she could have gone to and far better men she could have seduced. Then she marched downstairs and disappeared into the back room.
Where the private party continued.
At full volume.
Was Barret still there?
His car was in the lot when I left-which was about twenty minutes after Belinda blew me off. It took me that long to screw up enough courage to go back down and face what I thought would be a round of jeers from my buddies. But I guess Belinda didnt say anything, and they didnt see her come down, because all I got were winks and thumbs-ups.
Romana visualized the scene, told herself there was nothing funny about it. Still Honest to God, Mick, you men and your trophies. She slid from the desk. Okay, relax. In-terrogations over. What time does Jacobs shift start?
Nine. He waited a beat, then said, Youve got that thing happening for him again, dont you? No lies, Romana. Weve been friends too long for that.
No lies. She brought her head around. No comment, either. Direct me, Mick. Hes not here, hes not at the hospital, hes not on duty, and hes not answering. I need a location.
Try the gym, he suggested. When Knight has a problem crawling around in his gut, he likes to sweat it out.
She wouldnt ask, Romana promised herself. Didnt want to know. She made it as far as the office door before glancing back.
OKeefes smile was resigned, but all he said was, I wish to hell I had an answer for you. I know theres something that didnt come out at the hearing, something thats been eating away at him ever since. His eyes held hers. Whatever it is, and with Critch on the loose, hell bent on having his revenge, my gut feeling is that youre going to wind up in the middle of it-with no way back, and, more than likely, no way out.
OKeefes smile was resigned, but all he said was, I wish to hell I had an answer for you. I know theres something that didnt come out at the hearing, something thats been eating away at him ever since. His eyes held hers. Whatever it is, and with Critch on the loose, hell bent on having his revenge, my gut feeling is that youre going to wind up in the middle of it-with no way back, and, more than likely, no way out.
ONE OF DYLANS FISTS nicked his jaw. Jacob licked blood from the corner of his mouth and felt the fire inside swell.
Dylan danced back and forth on his toes, expending energy, breathing in controlled bursts. Jacob preferred a mental dance and slow, assessing circles that, for the most part, took him out of range whenever his opponent bounced in.
Kick it back up, Knight, an impatient Dylan growled. Were not cats in an alley.
They werent kangaroos in the outback, either. Ill kick it up, Jacob replied. And offered a dangerous smile. When it feels right.
Dylan blew out more loud breaths. His lungs appeared to be tiring, which actually surprised Jacob a little. From the look of his muscles, Hoag should have been in better shape.
He let Dylan come to him, offset the left hook and faked a right. Dylan was so busy protecting his face that he missed the body blow completely. It caught him in the solar plexus and elicited a rush of air that left him doubled over and gasping.
But only for a moment. Then the dancing stopped, and he charged.
It was exactly what Jacob wanted.
Dylans fingers missed his throat by inches. When Jacob snaked an arm around his neck, he felt an elbow plunge into his stomach. It hurt, but not enough to throw him off. Snugging his grip, he gave Dylans ribs a hard jab. In response, Dylan butted him on the side of the neck.
Jacob felt sweat slither down his spine. The desire for more was a hunger inside him. The pain felt good, and every punch, every kick, every lash knocked another cobweb loose.