“I can give you names, addresses, and general information on the victims, but not much more. I know they have no suspects.”
“When was the last attack?”
“Almost a year ago, here’s the odd part, not long before the first victim in your case was found.”
Lindsey’s mind raced with options. The possibility of the Hudson and Williams cases being related had just moved to the possible scale. The implications the new knowledge represented made her stomach churn. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Steve’s voice held a warning. “Lindsey, I think you need to turn this information over to the right people. The Williams’ murders were violent. I don’t want you taking crazy risks.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I need some time, Steve, please. Once the prosecutors know about this, I’ll have a much harder time uncovering what is truth and what is colored over.”
“You have a history of pushing beyond what you should. Lindsey, these girls all look like you. I don’t like it.” He made a frustrated sound. “Not one bit.”
Lindsey knew she pushed the envelope. “I’ll be careful. Just give me a couple days.”
He was silent a moment, then in a softer voice, “How long are you going to pay back the world for Hudson? When are you going to forgive yourself?”
She swallowed back the threatening emotion. When she felt she had herself in check, she said, “Give me a few days.”
His hesitation was silent but it reached through the phone line. “Three days and no more, and I want to be kept in the loop. The minute you shut me out, I shut you down.”
Lindsey didn’t like being held captive by Steve or anyone else, but her options were limited. “Fine,” she conceded.
“How about we meet at that coffee shop you love, and I’ll give you what I have. Say,” he paused as if looking at his watch, “in an hour?”
A quick goodbye later, Lindsey hit the end button on her phone, and curled her legs underneath her body. Her thoughts were running wild. Could Hudson and Williams be innocent? She hated to even think such a thing. What if she was wrong?
But what if she wasn’t and she didn’t pursue the real criminal? How many women might die?
“What are you doing?”
Lindsey looked up to see Mark standing a few feet away; dressed in only his boxers, he was a picture of rippling, perfect male. It took her a minute to find her voice. Mark so took her breath away. “Just sitting here thinking.”
He walked to the couch, and her eyes followed his every step. He sat down beside her, and pulled her legs across his lap. It was an intimate, comfortable act that made her smile inside. His hand ran up her bare leg. “You look good in my shirt.”
She smiled and spread one hand on his chest, loving how it felt to touch him so freely. “You look good without it.”
Mark laughed and brushed his lips across hers. “Who was on the phone?”
She drew back slightly, eager to tell him her news, and watch his reaction. “Steve,” she said. “Get this. There was a string of rapes that fit the Hudson and Williams profiles in Vegas last year. They never connected anything to Hudson, of course, because he was in jail.”
“What do you mean they fit both profiles?” he asked. “Be specific.”
“Same exact profile, they all looked . . .” She let her words trail off, wishing she could take back what she had started to say. But it was too late. Mark was no fool. He would guess, or he would insist she explain.
“Like you?” he asked tensely.
“Yes, I suppose they do.” She swallowed back a feeling of sickness. “I wish you wouldn’t put it that way. I was going to say like the local victims.” A pregnant silence followed. Unable to take the wordlessness between them, she said, “Steve is meeting me in less than an hour to give me everything he has on the cases.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“You have to get dressed and go to the office. I’ll go by my place and change after I meet Steve.”
Mark’s lips firmed. “I’m going. Besides, we have to be in court at ten o’clock, so it will be just as well to already be together.”
“Five-thirty is the partners’ meeting. You remember?” she asked trying to distract him.
Mark shot her a look that said he knew what she was doing. “I’m coming with you.”
Lindsey felt her temper start to flare. “Mark, don’t start trying to keep me under thumb.”
She tried to move her legs and he held them with his hands. “I saw the way you hopped through that window, Lindsey. I’m worried about you.”
Men who tried to control her got nowhere. Mark included. “You’re starting to really tick me off. Let go of my legs.”
Mark wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, his mouth moving just above hers. “If you’re going to get mad because I care, then go ahead. It’s not going to make me back off.”
How he managed to deflate her anger, she wasn’t sure. In its place, a sizzling awareness settled, and when his lips pressed against hers, she was lost. Desire spread inch by inch, like a warm spray of water, rich with depth.
And when he pressed her back into the couch, and she felt his weight settle over hers, she forgot everything but him.
* * * * *
Still flush from the pleasure of their lovemaking, Lindsey scrambled for her clothes. Mark was in the shower, so she had a mere few minutes to make her escape. No way was she taking Mark with her to meet Steve. The last thing she needed was Steve getting all tight-lipped about what he knew.
And just because she and Mark made love, that didn’t mean he was now her sidekick.
If anything, his insistence on joining her only made her more determined to go without him. She liked Mark. Maybe too much. But Mark, or any other man, for that matter, was not going to start controlling her. Been there, done that, already had the t-shirt.
Besides, she would be going home to Washington. That, in and of itself, was a good reason to keep things light. Once dressed, Lindsey quickly scribbled a note to Mark and grabbed her purse before she headed for the door. She paused as she reached for the knob and sighed, a bit of regret filling her mind and making her stomach flutter.
She hated to end their night with this kind of departure. But what option did he leave her?
* * * * *
Mark stepped out of the shower, towel wrapped around his waist. He had just finished lathering his face with warm shaving cream when he realized how quiet Lindsey had become. A bad feeling made him step into the bedroom. “Lindsey?”
Something moved on the bed, caught in the draft of the ceiling fan. The instant he brought it into focus he cursed, and moved towards the bed. It was a damn note. She’d taken off without him. He grabbed the paper.
I had to go alone. Steve won’t tell me everything he knows with a stranger present.
Sorry, Lindsey
He crumbled the note in his hand. She was killing him. As amazing as their time together had been , it was abundantly clear he had no control over her. Why did everything have to be so damn complicated with her? And why in the hell couldn’t he just walk away?
* * * * *
Lindsey walked into the coffee shop, and immediately spotted Steve.
He was, after all, pretty hard to miss, considering he was the only guy in the place linebacker big, black, and dressed in a suit. He pushed to his feet the minute he saw her, and held out his arms, offering her one of his teddy bear-sweet hugs that so didn’t match his intimidating physical presence.
After a few moments of heartfelt happy greetings, they sat down at the table Steve had been holding for them. A cup of steaming hot coffee sat in front of Lindsey. Steve grinned. “I got your favorite. A venti Carmel latte.”
She felt the ache of her past actions both in her stomach and the ache in her heart. He was a good friend, a close one, and she had turned away from him. “Thanks Steve,” she said, trying not to choke on emotion. “How are Louise and the kids?”
“The kid
s are kids. Tommy got suspended for pulling the fire alarm and Sally put gum in her hair. Louise, on the other hand, is mad at hell at you for forgetting about us.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I don’t even know what to say. Everything sounds like an excuse. The bottom line is I was afraid of anything that tied me to the past. I needed a new life. But I regret making you a part of what I shut out.”
His expression softened at her honesty. “I know it’s hard for you to be back here, faced with running the firm.”
She reached for her cup. “And this case.” The warm liquid seemed to soothe her nerves. Some people claimed caffeine put them on edge. Lindsey felt it gave her life. “Mmmm,” she said, “I missed this. No one makes a Carmel latte like this place.” She sat her cup down, “And, believe me, I have tried to find a match.”
“I guess you haven’t broken that caffeine habit of yours.” Steve chuckled as he reached for his orange juice.
She crinkled her nose at him. Years of working long hours had pretty much made coffee a food group by her standards. “I see you haven’t broken you healthy eating habit.”
Steve leaned back in his chair. “Yes, still got that bad habit.” He laughed. “You are a piece of work, Lindsey.”
She laughed. “So you have always said.”
“What are you going to do about the firm?”
She took another drink of coffee, and another. Just thinking about her situation made her agitated. Mark really did have her captive. “Trying to get Mark Reeves to take it back.”
“And?”
She sighed and sat her cup down. “He’s agreed to help me for six months, but swears he won’t stay beyond.”
Surprise registered in his eyes. “You’re staying for six months, or he’s letting you go back to Washington?”
“He won’t help unless I stay.” Her tone was one of frustration. “Not at all how I want this to play out. But for now, I am stuck with this case, and will at least see it through.”
Steve leaned forward. “I don’t know Mark, but I know his reputation, and it’s a strong one.”
“Oh, he’s good at what he does. Too good for my dad to have lost him. I can only hope time will work in my favor and Mark will decide to stay.”
“And if he doesn’t?” he asked.
“I don’t know if my father will practice again. He certainly can’t run the firm. I will have to find someone to take over.”
“But not you.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Not me.”
Ready to change the subject and concerned about time, she said, “I have to shower and be to court by ten. What do you have for me?”
Steve pull C0">ed.
She shot him a reprimanding look. “I know,” she paused for a beat, “like me. We all know this. What else?”
He gave her a measuring gaze. “You need to just chill, Lindsey. I don’t like that these girls look like you. It would be too damn easy for you to become a target.” He paused as he looked her over closely. “Make sure you’re not being followed. Those girls were all grabbed from behind. Be aware of your surroundings.”
She grunted. “First Mark and now you. Stop. I know how to take care of myself.”
“I’m damn glad to hear Mark has some sense. This is serious stuff.”
She snapped. “Stop acting like I am some novice, and show me the file.”
Steve sat back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his wide chest. “What gives, Lindsey?”
Lindsey looked at her coffee cup, and then back at him. “Sorry, Steve. I guess I’m more on edge than I realized.”
He stared at her for several seconds, and then nodded. “I know you have a lot on you right now.”
“It’s no excuse for me snapping. I’m sorry.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “Let’s talk Vegas,” he offered, giving her an escape from the moment, which she appreciated because she knew it was his intent.
“You said there were no suspects, right?” Lindsey asked.
“No one. They came up dry. The girls went to the same school and hung out at the same bar.”
A chill raced up her spine. “Bar? So far I have confirmed at least two of the girls in the Williams case hung out at the same bar.”
“Could be a lead,” he said. “I included a lot of general information like drivers’ license pictures of victims, and contact info for the detectives on the case.”
Lindsey took the folder. “Did the detectives here locally follow up on the Vegas lead? If they searched the national database, they would have found this.”
“The grapevine is pretty tight-lipped, but the word is that yes, it was examined but ruled out.”
Lindsey frowned. Steve asked, “What?”
Lindsey sighed. “You know what I am thinking. The obvious.”
“There was no way to tie Williams to the cases, so someone pushed Vegas under the rug.” His tone was grim with the potential truth. He and Lindsey both knew those type of things happened if someone had a political agenda and needed a conviction.
Lindsey nodded and then asked, “What time do you have?”
He glanced at his watch. “Eight forty-five. You better hit it if you’re going to shower.”
Lindsey took a big swig of her coffee and dotted her mouth with her napkin. “Yeah, my first day back in court. I better dress the part.”
“I won’t ask why you are wearing wrinkled clothes.”
They both knew she was meticulous about her appearance. Not only that, the very fact she was rushing home to change confirmed any assumptions he might make.
“And I won’t explain.” Lindsey stood up and grabbed the folder and her briefcase. After giving Steve a quick kiss and promising to check in that night, she started for the door.
Steve reached out and grabbed her arm. He grabbed her hand. “Be careful,” he said looking at her with concern etched in his face.
She nodded and turned to walk away but suddenly had a thought that made her turn back. “Hudson, the last trial I didn’t handle, can you find out how conclusive the DNA evidence was?”
He eyed her. “I can. You think it was a plant?”
“Maybe,” she said. “It’s a long shot, but worth looking at.”
* * * * *
Lindsey started stripping the minute she walked into her apartment, leaving a trail of clothes leading to the shower. Late to court wasn’t an option. Twenty minutes later, dressed in a stylish black suit, her hair twisted into a neat bun, she walked out her front door, dialing her phone as she pulled it shut behind her.
The receptionist at Paxton answered in two rings. “I need Mark. This is Lindsey.”
“Oh, dear,” she said in a panicked voice. “Mark has been grumbling about you.”
“I imagine.” Lucky for her, court would make it impossible for him to yell at her.
Music came on the line, and then, “Damn it Lindsey, where are you?”
“Temper, temper,” she said. “I’m on my way to the courthouse now. I’ll meet you in front.”
“If you ever pull a stunt like this again I swear I . . .”
Lindsey interrupted. “You’ll what?”
“Just get your ass to the courthouse.” The line went dead.
She stared at the phone. “That went well.” She sighed and hit end.
Lindsey stepped out of the cab to find Mark pacing the steps of the courthouse. The minute he saw her, he stalked in her direction looking like a hard-nosed, perfectly-dressed attorney who happened to be breathtaking sexy, and so angry he looked like he could kill.
The instant he was within hearing range, he started his verbal lashing. “You could have made us late.” He tapped the face of his watch.
Her chin lifted defiantly. “But I didn’t.”
Mark grabbed her arm, not hard, but no less forceful, as he leaned down, his mouth near her ear. “Don’t pull a stunt like this again.”
Lindsey’s eyes lifted to his, a challenge in the direct stare she gave him. “Or
what, Mark?”
He looked her squarely in the eye. “Or I won’t stay around to deal with it.”
Her eyes widened with disbelief. She didn’t think he would hold his presence over her head. “You know what?” she asked, her tone low, but packed with fury. “I want your help, but I won’t have it held over my head. If this is how it’s going to be, then forget it. I don’t want your help. Give me the file, and I will take over.”
His eyes were so dark brown they were almost black, and she could see a muscle in his jaw jump. She could almost hear him count to ten in his head. Then, as if the anger she had just seen in his eyes had never existed, an aloof coolness filled his face. His hand dropped from her arm. “This isn’t the time or place for this discussion. We’re due in court.”
For a moment, she actually had the crazed desire to tell him to go to hell, demand the case file, and march up the courtroom stairs by herself. A moment was it. After that, sanity took over. She didn’t want the case or the firm. “Fine,” she spat, because no other words came to mind. Not ones that wouldn’t greatly hurt her chances of keeping Mark at Paxton.
They eyed one another, a stand-off of sorts, and without another word, turned and walked, side by side, up the courthouse steps. A few minutes later, not a word spoken between them, they stepped into the courtroom. As they approached the defense table, Lindsey momentarily stopped walking. She could hardly believe who was representing the state.
Mark’s head jerked in her direction. “What?”
She swallowed, and started walking again. “Prosecutor change. Not a good one.”
Mark followed her lead. “Meaning what?”
She eyed him as they sat down. “Meaning Greg Harrison is not one of my favorite people.” In fact, he was one of her least favorites.
Mark leaned close. “I’m not in the mood for anymore surprises.”
She gave him a hard stare. “He’s my ex-fiancé, Mark.”
He shut his eyes a minute, and then refocused. “Let me guess? He isn’t going to play nice?”
“We’ll see, I guess.”
Mark pulled the case file out of his briefcase. “Wonderful. This day gets better and better.” He looked beyond her shoulder. “Don’t look now.”