Page 32 of Love Above Law

"Because the body was discovered on government property," Kurt explains.

Shit. "I'll pass it on to Kai."

"I'm sending you the address now. Meet me there," he hangs up.

I shoot a quick text to Kai.

Me: Meet me here.

161 East St. Clair

Kai: Got it

Picking up my wallet, I shove both it and my cell into my pockets before calling out to Leyna who has taken her coffee and disappeared into her bedroom. "Leyna, I'll take you to Rumors." I walk in the direction of the bedroom stopping when she appears in the hallway with her head cocked slightly to one side as she pins earrings on.

"You go ahead. It's only a few blocks from here, and since the weather is nice today I might walk. Besides, I still have another hour before my interview, and I want to eat some of that breakfast you cooked this morning." Leyna brushes by, the smell of roses fill my senses.

Leyna walking alone anywhere in Seattle worries me. With those feelings, I march into my office and dig in my desk drawer for the couple of items I picked up the other day. Leyna is sitting at the table with her plate and begins to eat the breakfast I prepared for her when I come back out. "Here." In my hand, I hold out a small taser and a can of pepper spray. "I want you to keep these in your bag." She sits there and listens as I instruct her on how to use them.

"Would having these things help ease your paranoia?"

"It's a good start," I tell her. Standing there I wait until she slips them in her bag hanging on the back of her seat. "I've got to go." Bending, I kiss her forehead. "Let me know the moment you walk inside Rumors, and the moment you get home."

"Okay."

Before I can climb into my car, my phone rings. Slipping it from my pocket, I answer without glancing at the name across the screen. "Hello." For a second the line is silent.

"Lex." The second my ex's voice speaks, my mood shifts. Immediately I think about the message she left the other night on the answering machine.

"April, I'm not even sure how you got your hands on my personal number and why you are calling me, but this shit needs to stop," I fume. Sticking my key into the ignition, I start my car.

"Lex, baby, please give me a chance to explain," April pleads.

"What is there to explain, April? It's been years. We both have moved on."

"Why do you hate me so much?" Her voice lacks genuine emotion.

"Because you cheated on me. With my best friend." I try my hardest to keep my voice even. "It's in the past—where it needs to stay, April. Don't call my cell and do not call my home again." I warn her then hang up. I don't understand why suddenly, she's contacting me. I made myself clear then, and I've made myself clear now. I am not interested in being a part of her life—my future is with Leyna.

Seattle PD already has the entire area blocked and taped off by the time I pull up to the scene. Parking my car beside Kai's truck, I get out meeting him and Kurt who are talking with the coroner. "What do we have?" I ask Kurt. Lifting the crime scene tape the three of us walk across the large abandoned parking lot riddled with weeds growing through the cracks in the asphalt.

"Female who appears to have been strangled," Kurt explains as we round the corner of the old building that once housed military records before the government built a newly updated facility more than thirteen years ago on the other side of the city.

"Here's the kicker," Kai says as we watch the CSI team do what they do. "She's the third female found in the past ten days; same M.O." I turn my head in his direction.

"Besides the supposed manner of death, what other details match?" I ask as we come in closer getting a better look at the victim.

"All three have similar characteristics. Dark brown hair, green eyes, early to mid-twenties," Kurt finishes.

I blow out a breath knowing what he is hinting at. "Which means we could be dealing with a potential serial killer. Local have any leads?" We watched them cover her body until the coroner makes his way over.

"From what I've obtained so far this morning they have no leads and not much evidence to go by. Whoever is responsible for these three murders has left nothing behind." Kurt turns his back on the scene and faces Kai and me. "And I'm sure you've realized by now, I'm putting you two on this case."

"And the new Santino information I brought back from Polson? I still can't believe that kind of bank activity flew under the FBI's radar," I mention.

Kurt scratches the back of his head. "We should know the answers to your question by the end of the week. So, for now, focus on this case."

He's right. "I'll catch up with you both later at headquarters. See what else you can find out. Make sure you get to look at all case files on the other two homicides," Kurt mentions before walking back in the direction we came.