Spoilt (9 page)

Then something surprised him. She took a step forward. “What
is it?”

He knew she now wanted him to touch her.
She does feel it
too.

“
I … no, I really can’t explain …”

That smile again. Encouraging him.

“…
I can only show you …”

Her hand reached out towards him, bridging the short distance
between them before returning to her side. “Show me what, Lucas?”
Her tone suggested she understood and her eyes reflected his
sentiment.

It was now or never.

“
This.” He took the final step towards her and placed his
hands lightly on her waist. Pulling her towards him, he stooped
down to kiss her softly but he craved more.
She feels and smells so
good.
He
wrapped his arms around her, lifted her slightly from her feet,
bringing her tight against his body and deepened the
kiss.

Chelsea’s mind went blank as she melted into his
arms.
He
feels so good. How does he do this to me?
She lost all control of her hands as
they wound around his neck. Her fingers dove into his
hair.

He groaned and she felt his tongue ease against hers. Her
tongue came to meet his and she moaned audibly. Her pulse raced as
a fierce surge of electricity shot through her. His tongue against
hers, his soft lips and hair, his strong arms around her waist,
caused desire to overcome her and she groaned again. At that moment
she couldn’t even imagine their lips parting.

Stopping abruptly, he lowered her to the ground.

“
I’m sorry,” he said with a husk laden voice. “I shouldn’t
have done that.”

His sudden backtracking shocked her to inexplicable outrage
and she fixed him with an icy glare. “That’s right, you shouldn’t
have. I hope you got what you came for. You had better leave before
I report you.” She wasn’t sure whether she meant it or not. She was
lost.

So was Lucas. He stared as her for a second, mumbled an
apology, and left.

Chelsea stood there visibly shaken, as shaken as she had been
when she had been told that Elle wouldn’t be coming back. She knew
exactly what the emotions were that he had stirred within her, but
it had been a long time since ... However, this was no whimsy.
She’d let him in and now she was on fire. How could he make her
feel ablaze one moment and then like ice the next?

Chelsea decided this could not happen again. She was not going
to get involved with this gruff detective and then hurt by him, no
matter how sexy he was.

* * *

Lucas stormed out to his car. What was he thinking? She was
part of an ongoing investigation. He had just put his job on the
line –
for
what, green eyes and milky skin?
Well, there could be worse reasons but,
no, he wasn’t going to get involved. He wasn’t going to get close
to anyone and certainly not someone relating to a case. It’s just
chemistry.
She’s out of my system now.
Wasn’t she?

No, he realised she wasn’t, not now that he’d tasted the pout
of her lips. She wasn’t going to leave his mind in a hurry, however
much better it would be if she did.

* * *

Lindsay has turned out to have no fight at all and this is
making me more anxious to have the real thing, the real spoilt
bitch. She just sobs and her screams are just not the right
ones.

I must be patient, make it right for when I have my way with
the princess.

I think it’s time to make my presence known to her with a nice
little chat.

She’s home, so now might be a good time to see how she has
been affected by her loss, to see how she feels about losing
someone she cares about.

Ah here she comes now, out on the balcony. It’s so convenient
that she likes to sit out there so I can watch her. Who is that
with her? Oh, the detective who thinks he’s going to find me. Well
think again!

Wait, what is she doing? Is she kissing him? That tramp, I
knew she wouldn’t be waiting for me to come to her! What a
betrayal, I think that has just bought her an extra day of
pain.

I must keep it together. I have to go to my mundane job, keep
up appearances otherwise someone may get suspicious if I don’t turn
up. If it weren’t for that drab job I wouldn’t have found all these
lovely ladies to play with now, would I?

I have to go now, princess, but soon I’ll get to see your
blood spill.

Chapter 10

Suspect

Thursday

Maggie was talking with Detective Peterson, one of their extra
manpower, when Lucas entered the precinct.

“
Hey, tough guy, how are you?” asked Andrew
Peterson.

Lucas always thought Andy looked more like a soldier than a
cop. Medium height with a short blond military style cut, friendly
blue eyes and a stocky, well built physique. His precision on the
job made him an excellent detective.

“
I’ll be better when we catch this guy,” he
replied.

“
I’ve just been filling Maggie in on our interviews with
Elle’s family. Greg and I are about to go and speak with her
friends and then start a canvas of the street.”

“
Great, thanks, Andy.”

“
Catch ya later.” He waved as he headed out to join his
partner.

“
So, how did it go with Chelsea?” Maggie asked, her tone
wary.

“
I think we might have a lead regarding the Coffee Break
Café,” he replied with renewed energy, trying to put Chelsea out of
his mind. “Were Libby and Kate customers like Elle?”

“
Yes, they both had coffee there most mornings on the way to
work. It’s a popular place and the food is supposed to be
good.”

“
Did the victims’ friends know if maybe this mystery guy of
theirs worked there?”

“
I asked but none of them knew.”

“
Chelsea remembered Elle talking about a blonde guy who either
worked there or owned the place.”

“
Let’s check it out while we’re waiting for the reports from
David and the findings from Chelsea’s house.”

“
I could do with a decent lunch, so we could grab a bite while
we’re there. We don’t get much time to eat good food on this
job.”

As they pulled up, Lucas pointed out where Elle worked and how
close it was to the café. They walked in to find a trendy but cosy
atmosphere and one free table.

“
Can I help you?” a perky blonde waitress asked.

“
Yes, can we get a table for lunch?” Lucas gave her a crooked
grin.

“
Why certainly, big guy,” she said. “Have the table over there
by the window. I’ll come back and take your order in a
moment.”

“
Do you have to melt all the women we meet?” Maggie
asked.

“
I was simply warming her up, ready to ask her some
questions.”

“
I think you are going soft on me, Hudson.”

“
Never happen.”

The waitress returned with her notepad in hand.

“
What can I get for you?” she asked, looking at
Lucas.

“
I’ll have a black coffee and garden salad,” Maggie answered,
diverting her attention.

“
Sure and what can I get for you?” she said, turning to Lucas
again.

“
Um, I’ll have a burger and coke, Laura,” he replied, reading
her name tag. “If it’s at all possible, when you come back with our
food would you be able to answer a few questions?” He showed her
his badge. “We’re investigating the murders of three
women.”

“
Oh how awful.” She paused. “I don’t know how I’ll be able to
help though.”

“
We believe they used to eat here.”

“
Oh, ok, I’ll be back with your orders shortly,” she said
flashing her smile at Lucas again.

“
How can you eat that stuff all the time and stay
thin?”

“
Good metabolism, I guess.” He shrugged.

“
Yeah well, it pisses me off. If I ate that stuff, I’d have to
spend an extra hour on the treadmill.”

“
I still go to the gym sometimes too, when I have the
time.”

“
Yeah, but if I ate like you, I would live there.”

He shrugged again.

As they waited, Lucas perused the room, taking in every face.
There were several blond men and brunette women in the cafe, lots
of potential victims and perps. Were they looking in the right
place? It would certainly be an easy venue for the killer to meet
his vics, especially if he worked here. Disgust turned his
stomach.

When Laura returned with their meals, she pulled up a
chair.

“
Ok, shoot.”

Maggie pulled out the photos they’d obtained of Libby, Kate
and Elle.

“
Do you recognise these women?”

“
Sure, that’s Elle!” she said pointing to the photo. “Oh God,
that means she’s dead?”

“
Yes, I’m afraid she is,” answered Lucas. “Did you know her
well?”

“
Oh my God! I just can’t believe it. She’s so nice. This is
awful.”

“
Are you ok?” Maggie said.

She looked absolutely stunned, sitting there holding her
breath. “Yes, I think so,” she said, and started to cry. Maggie
placed her hand on the girl’s arm to comfort her.

Eventually the waitress wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “You
are going to ask if I know her well,” she ventured
bravely.

Lucas nodded.

She nodded back emphatically. “A bit. She’s been in just about
every day for the last couple of months.” She stopped. “I did
wonder why I hadn’t seen her since last Friday.”

“
Did you socialise with her or know anything about her?” Lucas
continued.

“
Sort of. Occasionally, if I was on a break when she was in
for lunch, I would join her. We started talking one day and found
we had stuff in common and it kind of grew from there.”

“
Do you know if she was seeing anyone?’

“
No-one in particular.”

“
Did anyone pay her any particular attention – anybody who
works here or a customer?”

“
Yeah, everyone.” She smiled. “Elle has a way about her that
made everyone around her feel comfortable. She’s so bubbly and
fun.”

“
So there was no-one who seemed to take a particular interest
in her that you noticed?”

“
Well, depends on what you mean. Adrian, the owner, was always
trying to go out with her.”

“
Do you know if she did?”

“
I think so but she saw through him. He’s a bit of a player.
He used to try it with these two as well,” she said pointing to the
other photos.

“
You knew both these girls too?” Lucas asked with growing
excitement. Could they have finally found a witness?

“
Yeah, this one is Libby. She’s been coming here for a long
time, most mornings before work, for a takeaway coffee. I don’t
know her name,” she continued, pointing to Kate’s picture. “She was
quiet and kept to herself. She ate lunch here regularly. I just
can’t believe they’re all dead. So terrible.” She dabbed at her
eyes again.

“
Did they go out with Adrian?”

“
I don’t know.” She thought about it for a moment. “Adrian is
always trying it on with beautiful women.”

“
So, he’s a sleaze, then?” Maggie asked.

“
No, he’s just charming and very cute, but I wouldn’t trust
him.”

“
Why not?”

“
If you turned your back he would be onto the next girl.”
Laura was on a roll now. “Trust me, I know.”

“
Did you go out with him?” Maggie said.

“
Yeah, but then he just moved onto the next one. She comes in
here quite a bit. I think her name is Lindsay.”

“
You don’t think it’s strange that your boss chats up these
women, they then go missing and then they turn up dead?” Lucas
asked in a probing tone.

“
Well, no, because they weren’t the only three he’s ever
flirted with. Like I said, he’s a player.”

“
It didn’t bother you, working with him after he dumped you?”
Maggie said.

“
No, he was good, if you know what I mean.” She grinned. “I
had fun. That was all it was for both of us anyway. All I’m saying
is if you got too attached to him, you might get hurt.”

“
Is he here?”

“
He was running errands. He should be back by now. I’ll check
the kitchen. He cooks our baked goods,” she said, getting up. “You
won’t tell him I told you all that stuff will you?” she asked
looking concerned.

“
No, Laura, we won’t,” Maggie said. “You have been really
helpful, thanks.”

“
You’re welcome. So sad. Hope you catch him.” She smiled
slightly and wondered off to find her boss.

Maggie looked at Lucas.

Baked goods? Flour!