Chapter 3
Detective Casey
“There. Safe and secure. I take it you can make it inside okay with all of that?”
Anna’s hands were full, carrying the coffee holders, and I almost couldn’t stop myself from glancing down at the white stained blouse still slightly sticking to her generous breasts. She’d managed to clean up some, but the damage was done—damage I would have loved to soak into my memory if I wasn’t trying to be somewhat respectable. I liked her. When I said she was different, I meant it. She was unlike anyone I had ever met. Her shyness was refreshing, as was her modest appearance. Although…there was nothing modest about it thanks to our run-in. I could still see the white lace of her bra peeking through the silk material unhidden by her open jacket.
“I think I’m okay. Thank you for this. I owe you one.”
“You owe me seven, actually. And I don’t forget it.”
She laughed, flashing me her perfect smile. For someone so beautiful, she tried damn hard to hide it. The black rimmed glasses were too big for her round face, but they didn’t conceal her large, light brown eyes. They couldn’t with how her long black lashes drew my attention. And the pink hue that kept tinting her cheeks…Jesus, was I still staring? I fucking was, and I couldn’t stop.
“I’ll be there tomorrow morning if you’d like to meet me.”
Meet her? I’d love nothing more than to knock that coffee out of her hand and give her a real reason to blush.
“It’s a date. What time?”
There was hesitation, and something I couldn’t quite read flashed on her face.
“It would probably be too early. I doubt they send me on the coffee run after this. I have to be in before eight, so…seven-thirty?”
My mouth opened, only to close. “Shit. I can’t.” The truth was on the tip of my tongue, but I wasn’t ready to tell her what I did or that I had to prepare for court first thing in the morning. How had I forgotten? She muddled my thoughts like no woman ever had.
“It’s okay. Maybe some other time.”
She took a step back, throwing me a disappointed grin as she began to turn away.
“What about dinner, Anna?”
Silence reigned between us as we stared at each other. I was so damn tense. I didn’t date. Ever. I knew this route. I’d been here before, and it was a disaster with my job. She’d come to see that with how many hours I put in, but I couldn’t stop the hope bubbling within.
“Tonight?”
“Or tomorrow. Whenever you’re free. You mentioned your mother visits, so whenever you have time.”
Emotions flickered while she took steps backward toward the double glass doors of the entrance. Her apprehension was clear, luring me in even more as I began to close the distance between us.
“I’m not sure whether she’ll be over tonight or not. Or tomorrow. She doesn’t always call. Can I give you my number?”
Before she could finish, I was already pulling out my notepad. It had her head bowing with a smile that tugged at her bow-shaped lips as she read it off. And not once did I look down at my scribbling until she was done. Had I thought her beautiful? She was so much more than what I could see. With her blonde hair escaping the ponytail to frame the sides of her face, I was betting with it down and free around her, she would have taken my breath away.
Blonde.
“I should go before I get in even more trouble.”
“Right. Anna?” She took another step toward the door, but didn’t turn her back to me. “I’m sure you’ve heard, working here and all, but be careful. There’s a serial killer on the loose. It’s not safe right now.”
“A serial killer?”
Her confusion had me falling for her even more. It set my worries over where she worked at ease…even if just a little. “You haven’t heard? It’s all over the news as of yesterday. I’m betting it’s even on the front page on your paper.”
“I-I don’t watch TV or…” she paused, swallowing hard. “Ads…I work with those. I don’t read the stories.”
Only then did she turn and rush to the door, but I hadn’t missed the way the color drained from her face before she spun away. She was clearly upset by the revelation. Didn’t watch TV? Didn’t read the paper she worked for? Who was this woman? She spoke of reading mysteries and spending excessive amounts of time with her distraught mother. There was an innocence about her that just wouldn’t let me go. After everything I’d seen throughout my time of serving in law enforcement, a part of me craved companionship with someone pure of the corruption and greed of modern society—and she was definitely it.
A frown came and I turned, heading back to my car. With my free hand, I ran my palm over the dampness of my shirt. My mind was racing while I sipped my coffee. Anna Monroe. Devoted daughter. Church goer. I wasn’t necessarily a religious man, but something appealed to me the moment she mentioned attending. Maybe it was because I was a disaster and I knew it. Hell, even now, I could feel the effects of the liquor I had chased down before I left my apartment.
Ring.
Ring.
I brought the phone to my ear. “I’m late, I know.”
Diego let out a deep sigh. “Bastard jumped the gun a day early. I’m about to head to the scene now.”
“What do we know?”
“Nine-one-one call this morning from a little boy. He found his parents dead in their bed. The father’s throat was slit. The mother was the target.”
“Fuck,” I growled. “How do we know it’s him?”
“He left a message for us on the wall. The same flower-shape was carved into the women’s cheek.”
I threw the unmarked car’s door open, pulling out my keys and sliding into the seat. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll come pick you up. I’m not far from the station.”
“I’ll be here.”
I hung up, repeatedly cursing as I turned over the engine and pulled into traffic. It didn’t take me long to make it the few blocks to the station and park. I walked to the trunk, popping it open to grab my spare shirt and tie I kept in the back. My pace was fast as I headed inside. A few looks were thrown my way and I mumbled greetings at the ones who braved acknowledging my presence.
“What the hell happened to you?”
My trench coat fell off my shoulders on a shrug and I rested it on the back of my chair.
“Anna Monroe is what happened. Give me a minute and let me change.”
Diego’s puzzled look wasn’t one I pondered as I headed to the locker room and stripped off the soiled shirt and tie. My suit jacket was still damp, but I couldn’t worry about that now.
“Anna Monroe?”
I glanced over my shoulder, tucking in the bottom of the light blue material.
“Couldn’t resist, could you?”
Diego shook his head. “You smiled when you said her name. Who is she?”
My pause had one of his eyebrows raising.
“She works at the Rockford Times. Billing department. Cute thing. She plowed into me on my way to get coffee. I asked her to dinner.”
“Dinner?” Surprise lit Diego’s round face. “And she said yes?”
I laughed, tying my tie. “Sort of. I’m going to call her later today. She’s…different.”
“Different, how?”
My smile fell as her face flashed in my mind. “Well, she’s as far from Jess as you can get. That has to be a plus.”
“So, she’s not high maintenance or loving your title but hating the actual job?”
I paused, dodging the last part. “She’s sweet. She goes to church.”
“And she wants to go to dinner with you? There’s got to be something wrong with her.”
I grabbed my jacket, cocking my head. “I don’t think so, but that remains to be seen. She’s very attractive. She hides it, though, which doesn’t both me in the least.”
“She doesn’t know what you do, does she?”
My arms punched through the sleeves and all amusement left. “No. Let’s go.”
“You said she wasn’t like Jess. Maybe she won’t mind that you’re gone so much.”
I threw him a look, staying quiet as I headed to grab my coat. Our walk and drive to the crime scene was just as silent. Diego knew when not to push me and now definitely wasn’t the time. Anna wasn’t what needed to be on my mind—especially if we were going to catch this killer. Time was running out. If we didn’t get a break soon, I didn’t want to imagine how much worse this could get.