Bond, Stephanie - Body Movers 05 (19 page)

He looked alarmed. “Do you need a lawyer?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “It’s just a formality, because I

was on the scene when the first victim was found. The GBI

wants to eliminate the possibility that the charms were

inserted in the mouths of victims after the fact.”

“All the more reason for you to stop the body moving,”

Peter said lightly. He reached for the newspaper on the

counter and turned the headline so she could read it:

The Charmed Kil er Takes Fifth Victim.

She skimmed the story, written by Rainie Stephens, who

cited her “source inside the morgue” as saying that the

charm pul ed out of the victim’s mouth was a woman’s

shoe. Carlotta bit her lip—that differed from the

description of the handcuffs charm that the chatty police

officer had given her. The same sources reported that the

cause of death had been strangulation rather than

poisoning, although granted, the M.E. might have altered

his opinion after a preliminary examination at the morgue.

The article ended by saying that the police had added

Randolph Wren to their list of “persons of interest” in The

Charmed Kil er case. The article went on to describe her

father as a longtime fugitive from the law who stil had ties

to Atlanta and indirect ties to at least one of the victims.

Carlotta’s heart thudded against her breastbone. Would

Randolph see the item in the paper? Was the district

attorney trying to lure him out of hiding to defend himself

against charges of murder?

She looked up at Peter. “Did you read this? The

insinuations about my father?”

He nodded. “Why didn’t you tel me last night that this

murder happened only a couple of miles away from here?”

“I didn’t want to spoil the evening and…you didn’t ask.”

He looked contrite. “I know. I was angry. But I asked you to

move in with me so you would be safe, Carly, and you’re

stil taking chances. Why?”

She pressed her lips together. “I guess I feel involved in

this case because I was there when Coop pul ed the charm

out of the mouth of the first victim, and because of

Michael Lane.”

“The man tried to kil you!” Peter said, flailing his arms.

“Then he stalked you under your own roof and again,

could’ve kil ed you. Did it ever occur to you that this could

be a little cat-and-mouse game for him?”

Carlotta frowned. “Are you saying that Michael might be

kil ing these women to get back at me?”

Peter pul ed his hand down his face. “Carly, who knows

what this lunatic is thinking? But until he’s caught, don’t

you think it would be safer if you removed yourself from

the investigation?”

“You mean stop body moving?”

“Yes. Like you promised.”

She balked. “I didn’t promise…exactly.”

Peter closed his eyes, then his shoulders sagged in defeat.

“Maybe I should’ve given you a polygraph.”

She raised up on her toes and kissed him on the mouth.

“Have a great day. I’l see you tonight.”

“I’m right behind you.” But he stumbled over the cat that

was underfoot.

Carlotta bit back a smile. The feline had apparently fallen

in love with Peter. “What do we do about her?”

He sighed. “We can close her up in the mudroom for the

day, she’l be safe there. I’l leave a box for her to go to the

bathroom. Ready?”

When Peter turned his back, Carlotta grabbed the

newspaper and stuffed it into her bag. She thought she

might have to corral the cat, but it padded after Peter as if

he were a big branch of catnip. Carlotta frowned and

brought up the rear, feeling strangely like a third wheel.

The cat, however, was furious at not being allowed to

fol ow them into the garage. Peter tried in vain to make

her stay in the mudroom. Carlotta managed to push the

cat back gently with her foot, but got her slacks picked and

her leg scratched for her trouble. When Peter pul ed the

door closed, they could stil hear the animal yowling.

“Sounds like old times,” Peter said with a little smile. Then

he sobered. “Was that crass?”

“No,” Carlotta said sympathetically. “I know you and

Angela had good times and bad times. It’s all right if you

want to talk about them, Peter.”

He nodded and from the look in his eyes, she knew he was

thinking of the way things had ended last night.

She put her purse in the storage compartment of the

scooter that sat next to Peter’s SUV. When she put on the

helmet, he stepped in front of her to tighten the strap.

“How’s the scooter?”

“I love it,” she said. “It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long

time.”

“I’m glad.”

Peter’s expression went solemn and she braced herself for

what was coming next.

“Carly, you’l never know how hard it was for me to walk

away from you last night.”

Her lips parted. “Then why did you?”

“Because I want you to come to me of your own volition,

not because you’ve had too much wine or because you

feel like you owe me something for letting you stay

here…or because I just want you so damn much. If it

happens, I want it to be because you want me, too.”

Her heart pounded. “Okay.”

“Okay.” He kissed her and when he pul ed back, his eyes

were glazed with passion. “I’l be thinking about you all

day. Call me if you have problems at the police station. I

can have a lawyer over there, pronto.”

“Thanks, Peter. You always look out for me.”

“When you let me.”

Peter’s words reverberated in Carlotta’s head as she

wound her way through traffic. He could sense she was

holding back. It was noble of him to wait until she was

ready, to wait until the time was right. That meant the ball

was in her court.

Too bad she’d never been good at sports…

16

Carlotta walked into the police precinct and checked in

with Brooklyn, who was standing behind the Plexiglas

window.

“You’re here bright and early,” Brooklyn said.

“I’m scheduled to take a polygraph exam.”

“Yeah, I see it here,” the woman confirmed, scanning a

computer screen. “But the examiner won’t be here for

another thirty minutes. Do you want a magazine?”

Carlotta pursed her mouth. “Is Jack in by chance?”

“Man’s been sleeping here.”

“Officers can sleep here?”

“Yeah, but he’s here more than most. But something tel s

me he wouldn’t mind if you woke him up, baby dol .” She

hit a button and a buzzing noise sounded. “Take a left at

the soda machine and go to the black door at the end of

the hallway.”

Carlotta nodded and walked through the secure door from

the lobby. The bul pen and offices on the other side were

subdued compared to their normal levels of activity. She

spotted Agents Wick and Green standing across the room,

but they were angled away from her. She slipped out of

sight and down the hallway. At a black door, she hesitated,

then put her hand on the knob and turned.

The interior of the room was dark and quiet…except for a

familiar low snore. She smiled and stepped inside. Rows of

bunks were situated on either side. All the beds within her

immediate sight were empty. A night-light il uminated her

way to a bunk in the far corner. As her eyes acclimated to

the darkness, she could make out Jack’s large form. He lay

on his back wearing slacks and an undershirt, his broad

chest rising and falling. His rugged features were relaxed

and handsome, but his eyes twitched, belying his

otherwise peaceful posture. Stil , she enjoyed the chance

to study him unobserved—he was such a physical man

that seeing him shut down was almost jarring.

He looked so tired she decided not to wake him and

turned to go. Then his hand darted out to grab her and he

pul ed her down on top of him. Carlotta gasped,

squirming. “Jack, what are you doing?”

“Right now I’m missing that magic skirt,” he murmured

thickly. “It’s harder to get into your pants when you’re

wearing pants, but I’m game.”

She pushed at him and wound up straddling him, with him

holding her wrists. “I thought you were asleep,” she said,

exasperated.

“I sleep with one eye open.”

“And a hard-on?” she asked wryly.

He grinned. “You noticed, huh? Wel , since you’re here—”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“I know.” He sighed. “If you’re not going to shag me, I

guess I should get up.”

“You have to let me go first.”

He made a rueful noise. “And therein lies my dilemma.”

Their gazes locked and she wished she knew what was

going on behind those gold-tinted eyes of his. He released

her wrists and she pushed to her feet. Jack swung his legs

over the side of the bunk and stretched his arms overhead

with a grunt.

“Do you sleep here often?” she asked.

“More, lately.”

“Did anything develop on the case after we talked last

night?”

“There was a reported sighting of Michael Lane in Athens

yesterday that finally made it to us around midnight. I’m

going to check it out today.”

“I thought you were banned from working on the case.”

“Until we can prove Lane is The Charmed Kil er, it’s a

separate case. I’m stil trying to find whoever blew up your

car, remember.”

“Athens? That’s what—seventy-file miles north of

Atlanta?”

“Give or take. Did you ever hear him mention ties in

Athens—friends or family?”

“No. But if Michael was in Athens, he couldn’t have

committed the murder in Buckhead.”

“If he was in Athens. Sightings like this are unreliable. But

assuming Lane bought a car with some of the cash he stole

from your house, he could’ve easily made the drive.”

“Has the town house been processed?”

“Yeah. They’re stil running prints, but you and Wesley can

go back when you want to.” He made a rueful noise. “I

assume you’l be staying with Ashford a while longer,

though?”

She nodded, not hating his discomfort. “I think it’s best for

now. Wesley is going to install a security system.”

“Finally. Speaking of security systems, have you been

minding your pussy?”

She leaned in and whispered, “I blew it dry this morning.”

He groaned and reached for her.

She stepped out of his grasp, then pul ed the section of

newspaper from her purse and extended it to him. “Rainie

Stephens has a slightly different description of what

happened last night.”

He frowned and took the paper. “The GBI guys could’ve

planted erroneous details in the article for their own

purposes.”

“It mentions my father.”

His mouth tightened. “I’m sorry.”

She handed him her phone. “Your crime scene photos.”

“How many did you get?”

“Six—five of them are decent.”

“Thanks. Are you ready for the polygraph?”

“Peter asked if I needed a lawyer to sit in. What do you

think?”

“That’s your call. But a lawyer would probably advise

against taking the exam altogether.”

“Getting a lawyer would make me look as if I have

something to hide, wouldn’t it?” Which she did.

“It might,” he admitted, setting aside the phone and the

newspaper and reaching for his dress shirt.

“Wil you be watching the polygraph exam?”

“I asked, but Wick said no. Marquez wil be watching,

though, and it wil be videotaped. And if the examiner asks

a question you think is inappropriate, say so.”

She nodded. Jack always made her feel better.

He winked. “Just think about having sex with me the entire

time, and your heart rate wil be so high, it’l throw them

off completely.”

Just when she thought he’d grown a sensitive muscle.

“Thanks for the expert advice, Detective.”

“Relax,” he said. “Go cross it off the list so the state dogs

wil stop chewing on your ankles. I’m going to take a

shower, then get on the road. I’l leave your phone with

Brooklyn.”

“Let me know what you find out about Michael?”

He grunted, which she took as begrudged acquiescence.

“Until we can get a bead on Lane, I’m going to keep that

security detail at the store. Go knock ’em dead.”

She left the room and backtracked to the area where she’d

seen Agents Wick and Green.

“Good morning, gentlemen.”

Green smiled and stammered good morning, but Wick

appeared to be preoccupied with swallowing a bagel.

“Do you stil need me to take a polygraph?” she asked in

an innocent voice.

Wick arched an eyebrow. “Unless you want to come clean

about something all on your own.”

“Nothing to come clean about,” she replied easily. “Let’s

do this.”

She pretended to be much braver than she felt when a few

minutes later she was led into a small room and

introduced to the polygraph examiner, a small, nervous

man with cartoonish tics. Wick handed him a file, then left

the room, but she could feel the agent’s disapproving gaze

on her from the other side of the two-way window. The

examiner opened the file, which appeared to have a total

of one sheet of paper inside.