18
To Catch a Killer
His breath caught and Lucas cursed his stupidity again. The gun and a wish list were together in a box. The first four names, crossed through in red, were the names of their drug dealing victims. The weapon matched the calibre bullets found at the scene, while her motive had been obvious from the first moment. Until they compared the weapon to the evidence it was purely circumstantial but with the list there was no denying it. Annabelle was the vigilante. Bringing him here and seducing him, had it been her plan from the beginning? What the hell was he supposed to do now?
After taking note of the next name on the list, Lucas reluctantly put the gun and list back into its box. With haste he located his clothes and had almost escaped when she returned from the bathroom.
“Where are you going?”
With his shield up and his face blank he hoped he hid the rampant emotions surging through his veins. “I have to get up really early tomorrow. I’ll call you.”
Driving home he wondered just how they were going to get around this now. They didn’t have enough to search her premises for the evidence he knew it contained. Had he just jeopardised their whole case so he could get laid? He would have to face the ramifications with Cooper in the morning.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Hudson, what were you thinking? Wait don’t answer that I know exactly what you were thinking about. You’re not a goddamn green rookie, you’re a detective. To think I picked you to partner with me because of your impeccable record, your test results, and everything about you as a cop. Then you go and do this!”
Lucas waited out his tirade.
“I’m sorry, Cooper, I honestly thought she had something useful for me, until I got there, then I found out what it was. I ... lost control, something I rarely do. I ... she ... I wasn’t thinking, not with the right head anyway. She obviously knew what she was doing before she invited me over. I should’ve stopped after that first time but I didn’t want to believe it was her.”
“Fucking oath she knew what she was doing!”
“I’m sorry, Russell, all I can say is, it won’t happen again.”
“You should have called me.”
His rant was beginning to wind down now.
“I didn’t want to bother you at home. I have no life so I thought I would handle it.”
“All we can do now is build a case against her and hope she doesn’t become suspicious or the gun will be gone for good.”
“So, what if she calls again?”
“You’ll have to act dumb and play along. I’m sure it won’t be too much of an inconvenience jumping in bed with her again.”
“Yeah, well, no,” he mumbled sheepishly, averting his eyes.
“You’re way too valuable as a cop for me to report this. I’ll keep this to myself if you do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“I’m due to retire in just under two years from now. I want you to listen and learn what I teach you. I want you to become the best detective you can. You need to learn to be tough, hard-hitting and unwavering. Learn that every pretty face isn’t necessarily innocent and every creep isn’t a crook. I need you to take some of the load. I’m tired and seen way too much. You need to keep a clear head and focus at all times. You cannot be fooled by a pretty face, ever. I know about your reputation as a ladies’ man and by all means, if that’s what toots your horn, go right ahead but do not let it get in the way of doing your job ever again. Clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Good, now I have an idea.”
All had gone to plan thus far. Annabelle had called again and he played along. It was time to catch a killer. Lucas checked his pocket to ensure the recording device was in place and knocked on her door.
“Well, hello there, detective,” she cooed. “I’m still a little mad at you for running out on me last night. I hadn’t finished with you.”
“I promise I won’t tonight,” he replied, he hoped, with conviction, as he swallowed down his contempt. Could he put the plan into action without having to sleep with a killer again?
“Come here, handsome.”
She took him by the hand and led him towards her bedroom. Damn, he really didn’t want to have to do this.
“How about we talk for a bit? Get to know each other some more.”
“What is there to talk about? I’ve been thinking about last night all day.”
Knowing he couldn’t push it, he allowed himself to be led. He merely hoped Cooper wouldn’t record this part. His earpiece crackled and Cooper’s voice came through.
“Don’t worry I won’t record this bit.”
He laughed to himself. Can he read my thoughts too?
Discreetly he removed the piece from his ear before she noticed it and placed it in his pocket with the hi-tech recording device. He then went through the motions as she removed first her clothes, then his, and when she kissed him the bile rose in his throat. Sending his mind elsewhere he thought of someone else. Stacy, Olivia, one of his conquests, even the sweet Leah. At least his guilty conscience would outweigh his disgust. She took him in her mouth and he pretended to enjoy her offerings. Wanting to get it over as quickly as possible he took command and was able to finish the job with haste, while still keeping her satisfaction. He made all the right noises as his heart went black. Everything that had occurred in recent years, the things bringing him back to the light, disappeared now and indifference took permanent residence. Never had he felt such loathing and regret.
“Hmm that was wonderful,” she told him.
How much acting had gone into her performances during their past encounters? He’d never had a bad report in the past and always considered himself a considerate lover but her exuberance had probably been melodramatics, this dented his ego, albeit slightly.
“You’re not too bad yourself.”
He waited, looking for a way to draw the conversation in the direction it needed to go. Deciding to try false compassion he began, “Even though it was a long time ago now I still miss my parents every day. I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose your brother so young.”
With false sincerity he idly ran his hands along her smooth skin and almost choked on his revulsion.
“I miss him every day but I lost him at fifteen, when the drugs got him. He was never the same after that.”
“It must have been exceptionally difficult not knowing exactly who provided the drugs which killed him.”
“Yeah, it sucks. I know there’s no-one to blame except Billy but I can’t bring myself to do that. He was an addict, a product of them. So, instead, I blame every scum sucking dealer out there.”
“I know what it’s like to lose a loved one without justice, without anyone to direct the hatred at.”
“You do?” Her tone was almost hopeful, vulnerable. No Lucas, focus, she is anything but.
“Yeah, when my parents were ... killed.” He paused. “They never found who did it. It was part of the reason I became a cop. I often wonder though, if I found the killers, what I would do ...”
His hatred for her threatened to dissolve his tenacity to find out the truth. The thought of the confidence he’d shared with her way back on the first night turned his stomach. If only he hadn’t shared the details of his life with her. Instead of sharing real and painful memories now, he could have given her a different story, one that wasn’t real.
“I think about it all the time. I want to blow them all away.”
“Yeah me too,” he lied. “I was hoping being on the side of the law would help but it hasn’t, all it’s done is make my thirst for revenge even stronger. The inadequacies of the law and the system frustrate me.”
“If you could find them, would you do it?”
“Without hesitation.” His lies crushed his chest.
“What if I could find out? I know people on the streets.”
“What do you mean?” She was going to tell him!
“I obtained a list of every dealer who could have or did supply Billy.”
“What are you doing with it?”
He feigned excited interest now. Teasing her between her legs with loving strokes as though impressed by her, he offered her an encouraging smile.
“I’ll show you but first I want you to keep going with that ...” He did as asked and brought her to a swift climax with his fingers. She lay panting for a moment, what an actress. “Hmm, I definitely want you hanging around for a while. Maybe, when we find out who your parent’s killers are, we could play and work together.”
Jumping up from the bed, she went to the cupboard and came back with the box. He couldn’t believe he had convinced her to reveal to him, a cop, what she’d done. Was he really that convincing? Maybe he was in the wrong profession.
“I know I must be crazy to trust you, a cop, with this, but after telling me you want redemption for your parents and seeing the hurt in your eyes, I want to help take it away. You are also exceptionally handsome and good in bed.” She grinned. She was truly crazy.
“I bought this on the black market. It’s unregistered of course so it’s untraceable. The list is from another source, an addict friend. When you came to see me that first day I was scared. I really thought it was all over until I noticed the way you looked at me. I saw sadness in you and I craved to take it away. We can do that together now, by locating and shooting those maniacs who killed your parents, just like I’ve been killing the dealers, one by one.”
He was taken aback for a moment as her manically laugh echoed around him. Did she just confess? Was it really that easy?
“So you did kill them?”
He actually sounded surprised. It seemed he was better at this than he thought he would be. The grit and resolve he proudly carried around resurfaced and any light in his heart turned black again, just like the fury he felt at himself and her. Just as he’d said to Cooper, he would never let emotions or desire cloud his judgement again. All he had wanted was to serve the law and give his life to justice but at the first sign of a pretty face he’d caved. His disgust over his lack of strength pushed away the last of his compassion.
“Yes I did.”
It was that easy. Her delusion clouded her judgement. She almost looked proud of herself and he thought she expected him to be too. With complete disbelief, he got up, found his pants, pulled handcuffs from the pocket and walked towards her.
“Annabelle Richardson, you are under arrest for the murders of Aaron Clarke, Leroy Delaware, Scott Parsons and Peter Thompson. Get dressed so I can cuff you.”
He felt ridiculous reading her Miranda rights while he was still naked. Surprisingly she got dressed as asked but when it was time to cuff her she kicked and fought against arrest, screaming obscenities at him. Gone was the seductress and in its place was a completely deranged grief stricken banshee. He pulled on his clothes moments before Cooper entered with two uniforms.
“Good job, Hudson, can’t believe you got her to cave so easy. You must be one hell of a lay!”