Is this what men always grumble about? Finding a release and going on their way once accomplished. My cousin is definitely a little whore. Not sure why he thinks I’ll take his advice.
“We’re getting drinks when I get back. He seems pretty nice but not sure if it would actually work between us. We’re both way too busy.” I shrug, clicking back to our messages to reply.
Me: Hopefully you catch him and get him off the streets. Sounds like he’s pretty dangerous.
Alaric: Stealing innocent women and torturing them, I would say he’s pretty dangerous. We’ll catch him. We can’t lose another life to this sick bastard.
Me: He better watch out. Not all women are untrained and defenseless. Maybe he’ll cross paths with the wrong one and it’ll make it easier for you to catch.
Alaric: Maybe, but I’d rather catch him before he has the chance to harm anyone else.
“Why do you think it wouldn't work? Both your parents were busy and they made it work. I know you want what they had but you’ll never find it if you don’t give it a chance.” His words remind me that he’s still here and I haven’t even told him what this guy does.
Huffing, I set my phone down and turn to look at him. He reads me like a book and knows this guy has my interest. I don’t entertain anyone who tries to pursue me since theyusually only have one thought in mind. Why am I giving him the time of day? I can’t afford distractions and he would definitely be one. Yet, my cousin feels that I need a little fun in my life.
“He’s an FBI Agent who goes after serial killers. I can’t just be open with him about what I do. Even if he did know what I do and didn’t care, I’ve killed people. We both know they won’t be my last either. It’s part of our world and he could never be part of it, especially with his career,” I huff out but as I say the words aloud, it gives me a knot in my stomach.
“You do realize that we could have an FBI agent in our pocket? Could be very helpful and you don’t need to tell him you kill people. Nothing will ever trace back to you so he would never know. If he makes you smile like that in a short amount of time, fuck it and go for it.” He shrugs, taking another piece of fruit.
For some odd reason, my stomach churns at the thought of using Alaric. If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t be against it. Such a strange feeling for a woman without a heart. Especially for a man I just met.
“We’ll see, but I’m not getting my hopes up. I’m going inside though. I need to pack my bag and get showered. We leave tonight so make sure you’re there in time or I’m leaving your ass here.” Getting up from the chair, I collect my things and start walking back towards the villa.
“Says the one who was late getting here,” he mutters under his breath.
CHAPTER NINE
ALARIC
“By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.”- William Shakespeare, Macbeth
My phone rings, causing me to jump upright in bed and pulling my pistol out from under my pillow. With a pounding heart, I scan the room for any sudden movements. My phone rings again, breaking me from my moment of freakout. Looking at the clock, the red glowing lights confirm that it’s indeed not time to get up yet. Who the fuck calls this early? I’m running on two hours of sleep since apparently I lost track of time while FaceTiming Celeste before she got on her flight home.
“This better be an emergency, Monroe. It’s three in the damn morning,” I answer the annoying phone with a grunt.
“You need to get downtown now. A body was dumped in Times Square. I grabbed you a Red Bull. Next time, answer your phone the first time I call,” Monroe responds annoyed before hanging up.
Now fully awake, I jump out of bed and hurry to getdressed in record time. The exhaustion passed as my heart accelerated to see what we were going to find. Something tells me it’s the woman we watched die in the live feed from The Jawbreaker.
Racing through the empty streets, I pull to a stop, parking close to the caution tape. Opening the car door, I step out to Monroe walking up, handing me the much-needed Red Bull. Taking the can, I crack it open and chug it down. I can feel the bubbles down my throat threatening me to slow down but I don’t, knowing damn well I need the energy right away.
“Slow down there, you don’t want to hurl that up.” Monroe takes the empty can from my hand and disposes of it.
“Yeah, well, two hours of sleep is a bitch and I need a quick boost.” I walk ahead towards the caution tape.
Stepping under the caution tape, a crime scene photographer snaps photos of the body in the middle of the road. We flash our badges at the officer standing nearby and he hands us each a pair of gloves. There’s no blood surrounding the body and it appears the body has been dead for some time.
“What do you have for us?” I ask the photographer while squatting next to the body.
Her body looks cold and her face is almost a gray pigment from lack of oxygen. Jesus, what did he do to you?
“Female, appears to be in her mid-twenties. Rope burns around the hands and feet as if she was tied up. Skin melted from some sort of substance, we will know more once we bring her in for examination. She has the wordwhorecarved in her abdomen and a jawbreaker down her throat,” the photographer responds as he continues taking more pictures.
We review the body once over, confirming it’s the same girl we’ve been looking for. She’s young. She didn’t get to live out her life just because she worked at a strip club. I don’t understand why their place of work defineswho they are as a person. Nothing around her body gives any clues how she was brought here, but I do spot a camera at a shop near the crime scene. Making a mental note, I’ll need to have Beckett check it out.
“We didn’t get her in time. He placed her body here to humiliate her even though she’s dead. Wanting her to be found as well as a warning that he’s not done. Her nails appear to have stuff underneath them. Let’s see if we can get any DNA from them in case she fought him and scratched him,” I address an officer nearby who nods in response.
Turning my body away from the diseased, I rub my temple as frustration festers. Yet again, another failure, reminding me this isn’t the battlefield anymore, but a new unpredictable mission.
