Fatal Jealousy (Black Widow Book 1)

FATAL JEALOUSY

She’s the number one suspect when all the men she’s ever dated begin to die... one by one...

By CHRISTINA OW

This is a fictional work. The names, characters, incidents, places, and locations are solely the concepts and products of the author’s imagination or are used to create a fictitious story and should not be construed as real.

5 PRINCE PUBLISHING AND BOOKS, LLC

PO Box 16507

Denver, CO 80216

www.5PrinceBooks.com

Fatal Jealousy

Christina OW

Copyright Christina OW 2013

Published by 5 Prince Publishing

Cover: Ermisenda Alvarez

ISBN 13:978-1-939217-23-3 ISBN 10: 1939217237

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations, reviews, and articles. For any other permission please contact 5 Prince Publishing and Books, LLC.

Second Edition August 2014 Printed U.S.A.

5 PRINCE PUBLISHING AND BOOKS, LLC.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to my editor Connie Kline for believing in me and my work and always encouraging me to be a better writer.

Also, I’d like to thank my friend William Standler for all his help with this book.

Dedication

I dedicate my second book to my sisters.

I’m glad we always have each other’s backs.

Chapter One

As they looked into the interrogation room through a one-way mirror. “I’m glad this is over.” Richard said to Carson, a sad tone in his voice. Carson turned and looked at his boss with a poignant look on his face. The distress in his voice was hard to miss, he felt the same way; he always did after cases like this, which was practically every case. They never came out as winners, just satisfied to have put a stop to it.

The Behavioral Science Unit was an arm of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that dealt with serial killers and psychopathic behavior. They knew nightmares came true, the boogie man did exist, Halloween tricks or treats could be the death of the partier, and they lived realities that others wouldn’t be able to bear.

“It never gets easier.” Carson turned back to the serial killer, wishing he had the power to do more than just arrest the shit head. “If only there was a way to stop them before the act.” He had killed six families in the most gruesome of ways, leaving their bodies bloody and in pieces.

It’s the kids that hit Carson hard; he hated it when the victims were children. “You know, they put you through all this training. Telling you what to expect and training you to expect the unexpected, how to read people and how to think like psychopaths, but they never teach you how to handle how bad it screws you up.”

“It’s like throwing a child in the deep end of the pool and watching him struggle to swim,” Doran said as he joined the duo, “but the parents aren’t too far away just in case the child hasn’t found his fins yet.”

Carson chuckled, stepping back to give the old man some room, “So you and Richard are the parents?”

Running his hands over the sides of his jet black hair Richard protested, “Hey! I’m not that old!”

Carson knew he wasn’t, but the job had aged him beyond his years.

Richard was taller than Doran but a few inches shorter than Carson. His light pink skin was the contrast color to his everyday dark suits. His dressing was ill influenced by the
James Bond
movies, the complete opposite of who he was, unlike Carson, who stayed true to himself. He was always in jeans, a tee and a leather jacket. He believed in being comfortable if he was going to chase a suspect down, and a suit wasn’t comfortable. He kept his kinky hair cut short and had a finely cut beard and moustache to frame his ‘lady killer’ smile like a perfect portrait. Carson laughed at his insecurity. “I didn’t say that! I just said you’ve been in this business longer than the rest of us.” He turned and walked out of the room with a swagger in his step, the other two following close behind him. Once in the bright case room, he gave the room a quick sweep, out of habit. He smiled and bit his lower lip when his eyes came to a quick stop on Gwen’s ass. His hands hadn’t touched that for over a week. He had to fix that.

She turned to him, with a knowing smile, pushed her chest out slightly and widened her cleavage.

Carson’s eyebrows popped up. Taking a moment to appreciate the effort, he went on with the sweep and ended on Audrey’s furrowed brows and pressed lips. He chuckled and winked at her.

Doran punched him in the shoulder, “Don’t let the white hair fool you kid, I can beat you in a boxing match any day.”

Carson rolled his eyes. One-win and the guy thought he was Muhammad Ali, “I’d never boxed in my life. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Doran’s smile deepened, “For the first thrashing, maybe, but not the second.”

He groaned. He was supposed to be the muscle of the team, and an old man beat him,
twice
. “I want a rematch.”

“You are on!”

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Kevin asked, with true concern in his voice. With a quick jerk of his head, he tossed his mop hair to the side.

Carson sighed, The genius of the group had an opinion on
everything
.

“Carson has been practicing and his sparring partners are twice your size... and younger. You can’t afford to break a bone Doran.” He said with a-matter-of-fact voice.

Carson flexing his muscles in exhibition laughed.

“Thanks for your support kid. Then Gwen will be my champion.” Doran said, walking out of the room with Gwen. She was tall, skinny, with a fire red bob cut that completely matched her personality.

“Oh no. Carson is my partner, we back each other up,” she said, giving him a wink and a teasing smile.

Carson tried to escape the short round girl, with a wild imagination, mirrored by the different hair color she had every week, but he’d barely made it two steps when she pinched his ear and pulled him down.

“Please tell me you are not still sleeping with her?” she scolded, in a low, harsh tone, “You know what will happen if Richard finds out?”

He kissed her forehead and looped her arm with his, “That’s why he won’t find out sweet cheeks.”

“You are asking for trouble Carson, what, this job isn’t exciting enough for you?”

“She’s my distraction and I’m her distraction. She and I don’t have families. The rest of you do. Speaking of, did Paloma go home already?”

Audrey’s face collapsed in sadness, “After a case like this, if you had children where would you be?”

Carson pulled her under his arm and held her tight, “That’s why I don’t have kids, but I do enjoy the practice, so, so very much.”

Audrey punched him in his side playfully, with a laugh, “You are so full of yourself! You do know you’re not that hot?”

He cocked an eyebrow at the statement. “Oh, is that why you’re here with me instead of your computer geek boyfriend?” he asked, in a soft tone and a sweet titillating smile.

“I’m immune to that, lover boy, how else would our friendship work. Amin and I have a lot in common, we are both computer geeks and we
love
each other.” She pulled away from him when they got to the car park, “You know
love
, a word that is still very foreign to you.”

Truth was she just wasn’t his type. Maybe if she shed a few pounds... but even then he just wouldn’t go there with her. She was his person.

“Very funny,” he said, before he turned to the rest of the group, “So who’s going home and who’s coming out with me?”

Richard was getting into his car, “My wife and son are waiting for me.”

“I’m too old to go clubbing. I’m just going to have my glass of milk and go to bed early.” Doran joked, as he walked away.

Audrey gave him a hug, “It's boyfriend time, sorry babe.”

Carson couldn’t believe he was asking this but, there was no one left to ask, “Kevin, what about you?”

“I have an online date with the internet gaming community. Thank you for asking though, I figured I’d be the last person you’d ask.” Carson looked at him with a raised eyebrow and his smile shrunk, “And apparently I am.”

Carson’s lips rose in half a smile as he stared at Gwen lustfully, “Gwen, you got plans tonight?” Audrey looked at him with disapproval, but he didn’t care. He didn’t feel like being alone tonight and Gwen was the best distraction he could think of.

“Sorry
partner,
” she said the word softly, “I have
other
plans.”

Carson was a little disappointed, but he knew what she meant. Someone else was occupying her bed tonight, which was good. This way, it would be easier to end their arrangement once he got bored.

“Why don’t you go out tonight on your own, maybe meet someone?” Audrey hinted.

“Good night, guys.” Carson said, laughing at Audrey and her moral compass. He was glad she always looked out for him, and sometimes kept him out of trouble, but Gwen was one subject they’d just have to agree to disagree on, at least until he got bored of her.

Chapter Two

Ellie spoke into the phone impatiently, “Ellsa, are you sure he’s coming?” She hated being stood up, as much as she hated blind dates.

“I’m sure he’ll be there. Have you been watching out for him? He’s pretty hard to miss.”

Ellie stood up from the table to leave, “Your definition of a hot guy is very different from mine.” She wasn’t going to wait any longer; she’d just tell Ellsa she did meet the guy. It’s not like she’d interrogate her for details- wait she would. She loved her twin sister for worrying about her, but when it came to her love life, she just wished she’d keep her nose out of it.

“Artists are tortured souls,” Ellsa said with revulsion, “So your taste in men and how you get them is horrible. So, for once, do us both a favor and do as I say.”

Ellie went quiet for a moment, her grip tightening around the phone. She felt guilty for ruining another one of her sister’s relationships. It’s not like she did it on purpose, but for some reason they just tend to like her better than Ellsa once she’d met and spent time with them. Once, they went speed dating just for the hell of it, and the two guys Ellsa liked seemed to want Ellie more, which was a little surprising.

Ellsa and Ellie shared the same features; dark skin, tall, skinny and with curves in all the right places. They both had average long hair- Ellie wore hers in loose curls and Ellsa wore hers depending on what was in fashion. Ellsa was sophisticated with very expensive taste, but Ellie, on the other hand, was simple and loved the rock- chic style.

“Okay...” Ellie conceded.

“If you hadn’t noticed, I can’t lip read through the receiver! Speak up or text... or better yet, go buy a phone made in this decade!”

“There is nothing...” Ellie yelled. Then she held her phone over her head like she was about to throw it. Arrgh! Ellsa was getting on her last nerve!

“Ellie? Ellie! I bet that contraption is dead! Stupid dial up...” Ellsa’s loud voice came through the receiver.

Ellie brought the phone back to her ear and patiently interrupted her sister’s rants, “Ellsa...”

“What did you do to get it to work? Knock it on the table?”

Ellie bit back a hiss.
I need a drink!

She walked to the bar, sat down and took out a piece of paper with the guy’s name on it, “Okay I’ll wait five more minutes if he doesn’t get here Ellsa....”

“He’ll be there,” she said, sounding very sure of herself before she hung up.

Ellie had put her cell back in her purse before she ordered a shot of vodka. She pulled down her dress when it rode a few inches higher up her thigh. She hated the dress, it wasn’t her style.

She ordered another shot and a beer. Ellsa would disapprove of the butch drink, but with every minute that passed Ellie was sure the guy wouldn’t turnup so, screw it! She had tossed back her shot before she took a swig of the beer right out of the bottle.

“Something doesn’t quite fit in this picture,” A man’s voice said next to her. His tone was low and very seductive.

Taking another swig of beer without looking at the guy, “Oh yeah, what?”

She liked his voice, but she was worried his face wouldn’t match it. In most cases, they never do....
maybe after a few more shots
she thought to herself as she signaled the bartender for another shot.