Chapter Ten
Jaxson
Bloody handprints stained the white tile wall behind the young woman’s body. Thick twine bound her ankles and wrists as her lifeless body slumped toward the mop sink. Stringy hair covered most of her features except for her pale blue lips.
It wasn’t a scene for the faint of heart. I knelt and glimpsed enough of the woman’s features to know that this was Harner’s niece.
“Think it’s her?” Johnson asked. He was the detective who’d contacted my brother about the body.
“Pretty sure.” I stood and lowered my voice. “Think it’s connected to the others?”
“Probably, but since nobody wants to admit any of the murders are connected, I’d say finding answers is going to go nowhere quickly. Of course, you didn’t hear that from me.”
I stayed silent for a few seconds, taking in the scene. “Thanks for letting us know.”
“You done?”
“I got my answer.” I nodded and walked outside to see Elena standing behind the police tape, watching me.
Several detectives were keeping onlookers at bay. It was only a matter of time before the press showed up.
I walked over to Elena, and we moved away from the crime scene in silence.
“Do you think it’s her?” she asked, concern filling her voice.
“Yes. It’s really—”
“Thank God you’re here,” Harner interrupted, glaring at an officer standing at the yellow tape in front of him before fully turning his attention to me. “These fools won’t let me see the girl. I know it can’t be Missy.”
I hadn’t even seen Harner come up, and from the sound of it, he didn’t know I’d already viewed the body.
“What makes you think I can influence them?”
Elena stood next to me, and Harner’s gaze dropped to hers. His scowl deepened before beginning again.
“You know as well as I do that you—”
I spotted the captain and turned away from Harner. The less he said, the better.
With Elena by my side, we made our way to Captain Jenkins, who was watching his men keep Harner behind the lines.
“What can you tell me?” I asked.
“Good to see you too,” the captain said, his stern look breaking into a smile.
The Jenkins family had been in law enforcement for generations and had been longtime family friends.
“How’s Mama V?” The captain pulled his bushy, grey brows together and eyed Elena carefully.
“As ornery as ever.” I grinned and shook his hand. “Harner really wants behind the line.”
“Can’t do it.” He shook his head. “I need you to convince Harner to head over to the ME’s office with her parents for identification. I won’t risk our investigation for some squirrely politician.” His eyes landed on Elena again. “And who do I have the pleasure of—”
“Sorry. This is Elena Egorov, a friend of mine.” A slight hint of disappointment scattered across her expression as she reached her hand to the captain’s. For some reason, her reaction pleased me.
“Nice to meet you.” She smiled and shook his hand.
“Does he always take you on dates that involve a murder investigation or a nightcap at the city morgue?” Jenkins chuckled and Elena blushed.
“I wouldn’t know.” She smiled warmly and let go of his hand. “He hasn’t actually taken me out… yet.”
“Long story,” I grumbled over Jenkins’s laughter.
“It always is with you. Well, Elena, it’s nice to meet you, and I think Jax owes you a dinner for this one.”
“I tend to agree,” she said.
Her smiled warmed me up, and I knew only having dinner with her wouldn’t satisfy me. But now wasn’t the moment for my mind to go wandering.
I glanced around the six-story brick building where a new group of onlookers had congregated. I was surprised I didn’t see any of Harner’s people surrounding their leader.
“Let me in there,” Harner’s voice charged through the air, and the captain drew a slow breath.
I glanced at a scuffle breaking out between two officers and the councilman and shook my head.
“Pardon me.” Jenkins took off toward the politician and Elena let out a heavy sigh.
“So sad to see someone in the midst of something like this.” She turned and looked into my eyes in a way that burned my soul. “I can’t fathom the pain her parents will feel, her family.”
I had a sudden need to hold her, and I didn’t even know why. “Losing someone you cherish is—”
“Volkov,” The captain yelled in my direction, and Elena jumped.
“I feel like I’m about to be asked to do something I really don’t want to do.”
Elena slid her hand into mine, surprising me. She squeezed it quickly and let go of it just as fast.
The crowd was growing, and several more detectives went inside the building as we made our way over to Harner and the captain. Watching two men who felt they owned parts of the city squabble over a dead woman’s body was a stark reminder of the city I lived in. Nothing was as it seemed. A dead woman couldn’t even interrupt the constant swirling of power plays and egos.
“Jaxson, please tell the councilman that he needs to meet the rest of the family at the medical examiner’s office. He won’t listen to me, and I don’t want to haul him away in cuffs.”
“Rick, listen to the captain. You need to go meet your sister and brother-in-law. Don’t do anything to jeopardize the case or your career.”
Elena was studying the councilman, waiting for his reply.
“This is ridiculous. I’ve devoted everything to this city, and the people whom I pay to protect and serve won’t even let me—”
“Don’t say something you’ll regret,” I interrupted. “There are eyes and ears everywhere, and I guarantee you, the press would love to hear what the city owes you in light of all the trouble the city council has gotten into. Now, if I were you, I would quietly do as Jenkins says, and if anything comes up, I’ll call you.”
Harner’s shoulders sank, and his eyes fell to a skittish cat darting amidst the growing crowd.
“Call me if you find out anything.” His jaw clenched, and without another word, he took off down the sidewalk where his driver waited for him.
“When was the body discovered?” I turned my attention back to Jenkins, who seemed relieved he no longer had to deal with Harner. I didn’t blame him. Harner was one of the slimier politicians.
“Three hours ago,” he answered quietly.
My mind flashed to the other women who’d been murdered. They’d all been found in small out-of-the-way spaces. One had been in a storage room two blocks away, and another in a mailroom in a basement. Missy was in the janitorial closet right off the hallway, another small space.
“Restraints?” I asked. “Not the same as the others?”
He gave a quick nod.
“Who found her?” Elena asked.
Jenkins’s eyes flashed to mine, as if I were responsible for her asking the question. I wasn’t certain he’d respond.
“The night janitor had just come on. We’ve got detectives going door-to-door in the apartments above.”
A church bell pealed into the air and Elena shivered.
“Why don’t you take Ms. Egorov out to dinner? It’s the least you could do.” The captain’s brows pulled together, his eyes narrowing. “What is it you do for a living, Ms. Egorov?”
“I’m a writer.” She squared her shoulders and glanced at me.
“I’d like to think nothing we discussed will wind up in the papers tomorrow.”
“I’m not that kind of writer,” she assured him.
“Good.” And with that, he turned and walked away.
“So, about dinner?” I watched Elena tense as my question landed on her.
“No need. I should go home and—”
I wasn’t accustomed to not getting what I wanted.
“You heard the captain. It’s the least I can do.” I took a step closer. “Had you not insisted on coming here, I would have shown up at your door later and requested the same.”
She crossed her arms. “Is that so?”
“I think it’s only fair. After all, you and your sister were trespassing on my property. I had to be pulled away from my family dinner to see what was going on.” I narrowed the gap even more and felt the heat rolling off her body. Maybe getting Elena into bed wouldn’t be impossible. “And I’m hungry.”
She stayed silent, and I touched her chin. A breath caught in the back of her throat, and I held in a triumphant smile.
“Aren’t you?” I asked.
Her eyes widened. “Aren’t I what?”
“Hungry? Aren’t you hungry from traipsing around abandoned buildings all day?”
“When you put it that way, I might be a little hungry, but I have plenty to eat at home.”
“But you wouldn’t have my company.” I smiled and so did she.
“Is that supposed to be enticing?” Her brow arched, but she was smiling.
“You tell me.” I glanced behind her and saw the captain discussing something with a reporter. They’d finally shown up. “I don’t think you were put off too much earlier…when we kissed.”
She laughed and her smile turned into a sappy grin. “You’re used to getting what you want and I don’t like it.”
“So you want to penalize me because I’m good at negotiating?”
She shrugged, not answering my question. “Dinner, and that’s it.”
“What else would there be?”
She rolled her eyes, but the playfulness behind them brightened my day. I’d never met a woman who was so insistent on flipping me shit at any moment she could, and I swore she got endless pleasure from it, which delighted me.
No wonder my relationships never worked.
“I feel like a burger. Nothing fancy.”
“Perfect.” I slid my arm around her waist and felt her melt into me.
Yes. This might be a lot easier than I thought.
I smiled to myself as we walked down the sidewalk to my car. Viktor hopped out and opened the door for us.
“We’d like to grab a late-night burger at Bud’s.”
“Bud’s it is.” He nodded as I helped Elena into the car.
Before Viktor made it to the driver’s seat, Elena turned to me and narrowed her eyes at me.
“Why do you want dinner?”
“I like your company.”
“And that’s it? There’s no strings attached?”
“What kind of strings?” My brow curved as my gaze mistakenly wandered to her breasts. I was always so controlled. I couldn’t believe I’d let myself slip up like that.
“That kind.” She twisted her lips into a speculative pout, which only made the growing desire I had for her worse.
Much worse.
“Listen.” I drew her hands into mine, and I felt her body shudder. “You’re a beautiful woman in a city full of beautiful women.”
“Well, thanks. That makes things much clearer.” Her pout turned to a scowl.
“And I don’t get caught up in beauty, but you’re offering me something I’m not used to.”
“I didn’t think I was offering you anything.” She laughed and sat back in the seat.
“Precisely.” I shook my head. “You’re offering me nothing but a smart mouth, and it’s refreshing.”
Viktor started the car and pulled into the light traffic as I kept my gaze on Elena. She was looking out the window and seemed pleased with what I’d said, but it was the truth. She was different from all the other women I’d ever come across in the city.
“Do you think there is a serial killer?” she asked, bringing her gaze back to mine.
“I think there is someone who’s decided to make killing his pastime, targeting helpless women whom few will miss.”
“Why won’t the police let the city know?” She pressed her lips together tightly.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “My best guess is that they think they’re close to making an arrest and don’t want any interference.”
“Or that’s just wishful thinking.”
I nodded and ran my hands along my slacks. “Or it’s just wishful thinking,” I agreed.
“Missy’s murder doesn’t quite fit the mold then. Someone missed her. She’s from a high-profile family.”
“Maybe he didn’t know that when he took her.”
“True,” she said softly. “It’s so awful that there are people in this world who don’t think twice about taking someone’s life. Don’t you think?” Hardness edged her last question, and her gaze matched.
“It takes all kinds of people, but there are a few groups in this world who’d do better if they were just on an island somewhere.”
“Murderers, rapists, kidnappers,” she mused. “I can probably think of a few more who belong.”
I nodded and looked out the window.
Viktor had just pulled up to Bud’s Place and hopped out of the car to open the door.
Watching her glide out of the car with her curves bending and leaving little to the imagination wasn’t going to make just grabbing a burger easy, but I knew my place with Elena. She demanded more control than I could possibly fathom, and for the first time in a long time, I was okay with that. I’d rather have the chase than nothing at all.
We walked into the bustling sports bar. Football plastered just about every screen in the joint. There weren’t any particularly quiet places to sit, but my hunch was that Elena would appreciate that. I spotted a booth and we made our way over.
“We weren’t expecting you,” Sally said, placing a menu in front of Elena and then me.
“I like to keep people on their toes.”
She winked at me. “Yes, you do.”
Sally had worked at Bud’s for the last five years, keeping the place in check and cleaning up any messes my brothers might toss her way.
Thankfully, Devin had cleaned up his act since meeting Avery. Getting late-night calls to pry my drunken brother out from another gambling fiasco had finally ended, and Sally no longer had to keep the back room open for his shenanigans. Avery had been good for him on so many levels.
“What can I get for you?” She looked over at Elena and her smile deepened.
“Just an iced tea, no sugar.”
“Sounds good to me. Gotta keep your wits about you around these boys.” She winked at Elena, who let out the most glorious giggle. I wasn’t sure she was really capable of this type of giggle.
“Thank you for that, Sally. I’ll take the same and an order of jalapeno poppers.” I brought my gaze back to Elena, who was watching me intently.
“How does she know so much about you and your brothers?”
“Believe it or not, we get to know our employees very well.”
“So you own this restaurant?”
“We do.”
“I always thought of Wolf Industries as owning entire blocks, not small sports bars.”
“We believe in diversification, but we do enjoy our development projects the most.”
“I bet.” She nodded. “You’ve been in charge of some monster ones.”
“True.”
“Tell me this.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for it.” I grinned.
“What does it feel like to get everything you want? To be untouchable?”
“How do you figure?”
“Well, like today. You get a call with inside information, and the next thing I know, you’re waltzing behind the police line where a detective allows you to view the crime scene. The councilman couldn’t even see what you saw.”
“Trust me. He wouldn’t have wanted to see what I saw. The nightmares alone would kill him, let alone living with the images during the day.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Our life was complicated. To the outside world, it looked as if we ran one of the largest privately held corporations in the city, but come night, we held this city together.
Sally dropped off our drinks and jalapeno poppers, and we ordered our burgers.
“Well?” Elena asked again.
“My family has helped a lot of people over the years. In return, favors are sometimes offered.”
“What about in this instance?” Her eyes darkened.
I let out a sigh and shook my head. “My brother used to enjoy a bit of gambling in his day. The cop who informed us about Missy had gotten in trouble himself with some unpaid debts. We helped him out and he’s helped us out.”
“I see.” She squirmed in the booth. “Just like that. A dirty cop helps a businessman because you helped him out of a—”
“He’s not a dirty cop,” I interrupted.
An angry spark flashed through her gaze, and for the life of me, I didn’t know why that turned me on.
“What would you call him?” she questioned.
“A man who made a mistake and needed help.”
“Makes it sound better, I suppose.” She took a sip of her tea.
“I suppose it does, but isn’t life a little better with rose-colored glasses?”
“Depends. I prefer living in reality. I want to know what’s in front of me. If I have questions, I want answers. I don’t want to live in a happy bubble where people spoon-feed me what they think I want to hear, but like you said earlier, it takes all kinds.”
“Not everyone can be as strong as you, Elena. Not everyone would pick up the phone and try to help someone they don’t even know.”
“To each his own.” She took a bite of jalapeno and moaned. “Homemade?” She took another bite.
“We don’t skimp when it comes to food.”
The bar quieted, and we both turned our attention to one of the televisions where Rick Harner was speaking with the press.
“Oh, no. He’s just made the police’s job a hell of a lot more difficult.”
Elena’s mouth dropped open as the councilman continued to speak.
“Our family is offering a half-million dollars to the person who can bring forward information leading to an arrest for my niece’s murder. Missy was an innocent victim caught up in something she couldn’t help, and we won’t stand by while other women across the city are being picked off one by one because of an addiction they can’t control.”
“This isn’t good,” Elena whispered, her eyes connecting with mine.
“No, it’s not. The system’s going to get bogged down with people trying to get the money.”
Sally brought over our burgers as Elena excused herself to go to the restroom. I watched her wander off to the hall, but the Women’s door never opened. I glanced at my burger and back at the hall. She wouldn’t have taken off, right? Maybe she was just texting her sister. A few more seconds passed.
To hell with it.
I scooted out of the booth and made my way to the hallway.
What I didn’t expect to find was Elena, standing by an emergency exit, wiping away tears.
“Elena, is everything okay?” My voice startled her, and she jumped slightly as her eyes connected with mine.
“Sorry. Yes. It’s just…” She stopped as I came over.
“I can take you home. We’ll take the burgers to go.”
She shook her head and sniffled. “No, I’m totally fine. It was just a lot. I don’t think I’m as tough as I think I am.”
I stroked her hair from her face as her eyes nearly melted me in place. Even when her eyes were rimmed with tears, she was beautiful, and the fire behind her gaze was so intense it was hard to stay focused.
“Are you sure?”
“I’d just go home and mope. This way, I can at least mope in front of you.” She wiped her eyes again and laughed quietly. “Aren’t you glad you asked me to dinner?”
“I wouldn’t want to spend my night any other way.”
“You are smooth.”
“Not smooth. Just honest.” I smiled, but before I realized what she was doing, her lips were on mine, coaxing me for a kiss.
Elena pressed her body against mine and let out a trembling breath as I kissed her back, and I realized this was a woman I’d never be able to predict, and maybe that was what I needed.
I’d finally met my match.