Inara
What a difference a day makes.I walked into work this morning with a bounce to my step.Because of Rex, I’m well rested, and my sex is sated and only a little sore.
Today, my keycard works just fine.Chief Jordan is waiting to escort me to the situation room.Instead of feeling uncomfortable, I ignore the stares and walk to the front to present my profile.It doesn’t matter how I got the attention; I have a platform, and I’m going to use it.
Bonds is in the far corner, studying me with narrowed eyes.I raise my chin and he gives me a wry smile.
Then, I present my findings.I cover the history of the Bondage Killer and his MO.“He’s organized.Displays signs of psychopathy.He has no empathy for his victims.But he was regarded as competent by his coworkers.”I outline his crimes in the barest of details.“He was presumed dead, but his body was never recovered.And I have reason to believe he’s back.”
I pause to click through a slide deck of the letters left at my townhouse.In the back of the room, Silva sidles in and salutes me with his to-go cup.His encouragement helps, and I breeze through the disturbing details of the Bondage Killer’s obsession with me.
“I believe he was surveilling me.”I pause on the letter that rants about how I belong to him.“He saw me interact with a male acquaintance,” I recite dispassionately, “and wrote this letter in response.”I take a sip of water and move on to show pictures of the dead birds left at my apartment.
The room is dead silent as I describe the scene findings by a “private contractor hired by the department to assess the scene.”Rex and I already ran this past Chief Jordan and got permission retroactively.
“Now, there might be a link between two unsolved cases and BK’s activity.”I click through slides of the Blackbird murders.“The MO is different, but the unsub left the same signature—a dead bird—at the scene.”
“You think Dennis Bundy was responsible for the Blackbird murders?”Bonds interrupts.
“I don’t have any evidence to support this.But the timeline fits.He could’ve moved to New Rome after escaping the warehouse fire.”
No one says the obvious.That he’s killing women who look like me because he’s hyper-focused on the one victim who got away.
I finish and let Bonds take over debriefing the room.
“How do we know this is the Bondage Killer?”Burgess pushes to the front of the room to ask.“Could be a copycat.”
“We’ll pursue all lines of inquiry, but for now, we’re going to operate as if it is him,” Bonds deflects and gives us our orders.I note that Burgess is assigned a job, but I’m not.
After Bonds admonishes us not to leak anything to the press, the chief gives a few vague words meant to inspire or some shit, and then the meeting is adjourned.
I head out quickly, wanting to avoid Burgess.
Silva falls into step beside me.“Great job in there.But damn, chica, you’re right in the middle of this again.”
I shrug.
“At least you have a rich husband to soothe your pain.”He winks at me.
“No comment.”I bite back a smile.
“Ah, ah, not so fast.I suppose you think you can buy off my curiosity with this.”He holds up his cup.“This morning, my favorite vendor told me I have unlimited chai.For life.And I know I have you to thank.”
I can’t suppress my grin any longer.“You’re welcome.”
“I knew it,” he crows.“Apparently, the whole department is getting new computers.Someone has a black credit card and isn’t afraid to use it.I figured it was you.”
“Good sleuth work.”Inara Ramos had nothing to her name, but Mrs.Roy does.I can pretend to be her long enough to spend some of those billions.If Rex has a problem with it, then he shouldn’t have given me access to his fortune.
But the way he preened when he presented me with a new Roy Bank card this morning, I bet he likes it when I spend his money.Makes him feel like I’m accepting our marriage.He probably enjoys tracking every purchase I make.The megalomaniac.
Silva peels off, leaving me feeling good.I like being able to give gifts to the people in my life.I have something epic in mind for Mina, if only I can find her.
I take a moment to send messages to a few of Mina’s handles on different chat forums we used to use.There’s no answer, but one of them might reach her.I’m sure Rex kept his word and backed off from tormenting her, but I haven’t heard from her since she went radio silent.I hope she’s okay.
While I was leading the meeting, I missed a call from Lacy Collins.
I remember all the things I said to Rex about her last night and feel a little buzzed that she’s called on the heels of that conversation.It’s like I conjured her.
