The Season of Sin (Peace In The Storm Publishing Presents) (13 page)

“You expect me to believe all this about Nadia?”

“It’s true. Nadia was a pervert. Bet she didn’t put that in her journals did she?”

 “Why couldn’t Shannon just give Nadia an ultimatum about their relationship?” 

“That wasn’t Shannon’s way. She did things so you’d pay attention to her so she knew if she slept with a man, it would piss Nadia off. Nadia hated men. I guess you can’t blame her.”

“Why?”

“She was treated horribly by every man in her life. She was sexually abused by her oldest brother until she was a teenager.”

“What?”

“Yeah and her other brother was horrible to her. The dad was a womanizer who was barely home and the momma a drunk. I don’t know how her sisters did but Nadia had a terrible childhood. Then she got married to Clay Hollister, a sadist. He beat Nadia for years then died a drunk.”

“She told me about her marriage but I had no idea she’d been abused when she was a kid.”

“Shannon said that’s why Nadia went into psychiatry. She wanted to help others.” Marley got the cracker box off the table. “But Nadia hadn’t dealt with her own demons.” She chewed a cracker. “You can’t heal someone if you haven’t healed yourself.”

“Meow.” Harmony curled up in Brianna’s lap.

“Who was the father of Shannon’s baby?”

“Bruce McNamara.”

“Steven.” Zoë walked from around Steven’s car when he came out of the police station.

The wind blew her coat up. Her sweater dress accented the best parts while leaving wonders to the imagination. 

“Hey.” He got out his keys.

“Hey. Did I scare you?”

“No.” He greeted some officers who passed.  “Uh is something wrong?”

“Someone was following me home. I’d gone to NYC to check on something this afternoon.  Well I just got back into town and when I was on my way to Jasmine’s, I noticed a car behind me. I didn’t think anything of it but I realized it was following me. I felt it was smart not to go to Jasmine’s so I came here.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. It’s too dark to see who was driving. I think it was a man.”

“Did you get the make of the car or anything?”

“No.” She stroked her gloved hands.  “I was just trying to get somewhere safe.”

“You did the right thing.”

“I know this might seem paranoid but every time something happens now, I can’t help wondering if it has something to do with the murders. I mean this person is still out there.” She shivered.  “And we don’t know what else they plan to do. What if they aren’t done?”

“Shh.” He touched her hand.  “It’s okay.”

“I’m so wired up. I can’t relax at all. I’m scared for Dylan. What if the killer comes after her?” She pushed her head in his chest.

“Shh. It’s okay.” He patted her head.

“I love her. If something happened to her I’d die.”

“Shh. Look at me.” He moved her ponytail off her shoulder. “Nothing else is gonna happen.”

“How can you be so sure? I mean the killer’s still out there.  Every time we look around something horrible happens. I can’t relax.” She held up her hands.  “See I’m shaking.”

“Know what you need?” He unlocked his door. “You need to just relax. When’s the last time you put your feet up and thought about something other than what’s been going on?”

“I could use a break from all this drama. I sure as hell can’t get peace at Jasmine’s. She and Dylan fight about Bruce every ten minutes.”

“You’re spending so much time thinking about Dylan and not enough about yourself.” He opened his door.  “The offer stands if you wanna talk.”

“I’d like that. Can we talk tonight?”

He winked. “We are talking.”

“You know what I mean.”

He got butterflies. “Well I’m not doing anything right now. You’re welcome to follow me to my place if you want.”

“I’d like that.  I’m parked over there.” She sashayed across the parking lot.

Steven looked at the night sky.  “Oh you’re slick, God.”

Steven brought two cups of coffee into his living room. Zoë checked out the stereo in his entertainment system.

“I like your place.”

“Thank you.”

She walked to the couch with her hands behind her back. Not many women made walking look like an art form. He tried to fight the burn in his center but he got hard just thinking of Zoë.

She batted her eyes at him while she sipped from her cup.

“Is it good?”

“It’s delicious. I just didn’t expect coffee. I thought you’d have some wine or something.”

“Well honestly I thought of wine but I didn’t wanna give the wrong impression.”

They sat on the couch.

Her dresses never seemed to stay down on the sides.

“You mean you didn’t want me to think you were trying to get me loaded so you could take advantage of me?”

He brushed off his pants.  “You can put it that way.”

“Did you ever wonder if I would mind if you tried to take advantage of me?” She licked coffee from her succulent lips.

“Uh…”

“I’m sorry. Did that make you uncomfortable?”

“No.” He put his hand over his crotch. “To answer your question I guess I wasn’t thinking of it that way. I should’ve asked you if you wanted wine.”

“Not really talking about the wine.”

“I see.” Steven unfastened his top button. 

“I’ll be staying in Albany for a while. Dylan asked me to. What do you think of that?”

He shrugged. “Is it my business?”

She crossed her legs. “I just hoped you’d be happy with the decision.”

He smirked. “I’m not upset about it. Can I ask you a question?”

“You can ask me anything you want.”

“How in the hell are you single?”

She laughed.  “I was thinking the same about you. I don’t know. I guess I haven’t found the right man yet.”

“I can’t believe that. I know many have tried.”

“A lot of men don’t like women who like to be in control. Believe it or not I’m kinda bossy.”

“Well when a woman is as beautiful as you being bossy becomes an attribute.”

“That’s very sweet.”

“Uh, I don’t mean to sour the mood but I wanted to ask something about Nadia. We found out that she had a bizarre sex life. Do you know anything about that?”

“I think there are a lot of things about Nadia that would shock you.”

“Were you close to Nadia?”

“Yeah I guess. She was always very kind to me. She had issues with the opposite sex.”

“Is that why she hated Bruce so much, because he was a man?”

“Nadia hated anyone who threatened her relationship with Dylan. I don’t mean to talk bad about her but she did everything she could to run Bruce away.  It’s funny how a mother’s love is huh? I mean if you don’t have that, you don’t have anything.”

“You’re adopted right?”

“I’m impressed. You’ve been doing your homework on me. Yes I was adopted. That’s why Dylan and I click so well. We have a lot in common.”

“Did you have a nice childhood? Sorry if I’m being nosey.”

“No uh, my childhood was interesting. Uh, my mom and dad loved me a lot. My mother died.”

“Your adoptive mother?”

“Yes but my dad’s still living.”

“You ever wanted to know your real parents?”

“No.”

“Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

“Do you think Bruce killed Nadia and Shannon?”

“I think Bruce gets picked on because he has a bad rep.”

“But everything’s beginning to point to him. You can’t ignore that.”

“I’m not a cop or psychic so I don’t know. All I can say is what I think of Bruce and I do not believe he’s capable of killing someone. He’s a lot of hot air. He looks like a big bully on the outside but he has a very kind heart. He loves Dylan a lot. He wouldn’t hurt her no matter what Jasmine or anyone else says. Can we talk about something else?”

“We can talk about your modeling career and why you don’t do it anymore. Were you famous?”

 “You ever heard of me before now?”

“Come on.” He perched his elbow on the couch.  “Must have been nice huh?  Living such a glamorous lifestyle.”

“It was just like any other career. It’s worse on some levels.”

“Why did you stop modeling?”

“It just wasn’t the kind of life I wanted. I’d rather work behind the stage. I like designing clothes, dressing models and advising.”

“You’re too beautiful to be behind the stage.”

“At least now I can make my own choices.  I don’t have to be what people think I should.”

“Oh is this gonna be one of those no one-takes-me-seriously-because-I’m-so-beautiful speeches?”

“What?”

“Beautiful women always act like they have such a hard time being taken seriously because they’re good looking.  That’s a crock. You got the world at your feet and men at your beck and call and you have the opportunity for all your dreams to come true.”

“Is that what you think? That just because I’m attractive everything’s easy for me?”

“I just don’t get why beautiful women can’t be honest and say they are glad they are pretty and stop trying to make people feel sorry for their nonexistent problems. It’s like they feel guilty for being good looking.”

“I could say the same about you. You’re great-looking. But of course being a man it’s different right?”

“Oh then here we go with the feminism.  I knew that was coming.”

“You’re a jerk.” She laughed. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Yes but I never enjoyed hearing it this much before.”

She looked into her cup.  “You’ve got beautiful eyes.”

He scooted closer.  “Can I be honest?”

She folded her legs underneath her.  “Please do.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you. Ever since I first saw you, I can’t get you out of my mind. I can’t take my eyes off of you when I’m in a room with you and I keep telling myself to behave and concentrate on the case but it’s getting so damn hard to when all I wanna do is grab you and kiss you.”

“Then do it.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

He kissed her, embracing the damp heat of her mouth.

“Mmm.” She lay flat.

He climbed on top of her and pushed his hand up her dress.  He moved his fingers against her soft thighs and in between her legs.

 “Oh that feels so good, Steven.”

He leaned up on his knee and dug under her dress. He slipped her breast from its cup and flicked her nipple. He continued to fondle her nipple while punishing her mouth with his coarse kisses.

“Oh yes.” She undid his belt.  “Now, Steven. I want you inside me right now.”

God must’ve been on Bree’s side because as soon as Zoë  unzipped his pants Brianna’s face popped into his mind.

“Ah, wait.” He lifted up.

“What’s wrong?” He’d sucked off her lipstick.  “It’s okay. I want it.”

“I do too but…”

“Then what’s the matter?” She sat up.  “We’re both single so I don’t see what the problem is.”

He wiped her lipstick off his mouth.

“I get it. Is it someone else? You are single aren’t you?”

“It’s a funny situation.”

“It’s Detective Morris isn’t it?”

“It’s complicated. We’re not together but…”

“You still have feelings for her?”

“I care about her yes.”

She touched his hand. “That doesn’t bother me. It’s no big deal. We can still do this.”

“I like you a lot but I need to think about this okay? If we end up getting together I want you to be the only woman on my mind at the time. Isn’t that fair?”

She fixed her dress. “Well I couldn’t confuse you with the guys I usually meet.”

“I hope that’s a compliment.” He walked her to the door.

 “It is. At least I know you’re not the typical asshole.” She put her coat on. “But rejection never feels good no matter the reason.”

He kissed her.  “I’m not rejecting you. I’m
respecting
you.”

“Okay but I gotta warn you.” She stepped on the porch.  “It’s gonna make it even harder for me to resist.” 

CHAPTER TWENTY

Monday Night (the following week)

Bruce tapped his feet on the grimy tile. He sat in the interrogation room of the downtown station going crazy until Jayce returned. Heat blew from a vent overhead yet he felt colder than when he first sat down. 

Jayce claimed he only wanted to “ask questions”.  Police never put you in the interrogation room “just to ask questions”.

He tried to block out his old foe, that deadening silence. He couldn’t ever escape it.

In prison the silence forced him to reflect on his mistakes.  Caused his regrets to manifest and made him endure the mental torture of counting the days until he finished time. It always mocked him and reminded him what he’d lost and might not ever get back.

That’s why he loved noise. He couldn’t sit in silence without his nerves driving him bat shit. Any noise would do.  It didn’t have to be pleasurable, the louder the better.  As long as it kept away the silence he could breathe again.

And people wondered why he didn’t fix his faucet.

Jayce walked in. “Okay, Bruce.” He unhooked a folder from underneath his arm and sat down. “Sorry for making you wait. If you cooperate without giving me trouble you can be gone before you know it.” 

“Go fuck yourself. I’m not saying shit. You think I’m stupid?”

“Forensics found traces of a foreign substance in the grass at Swaggert’s junkyard.”

Bruce twisted in the seat.

“It was vomit and it matched the dried vomit found on Shannon’s clothes.”

“And what the fuck does that mean to me?”

“Anyone putting two and two together can guess that Shannon threw up in that yard. Another thing proving she was there.” Jayce leaned in. “If I were you I’d be nervous. Or are you too tough to get nervous?”

“No reason for me to be nervous. Say Shannon
was
at the garage, does that mean I saw her?  Does that mean I killed her?  You got nothing to tie me to this. You’re just grabbing at shit.”

“Oh we got something, Bruce.  What we found is enough for me to arrest you for First Degree Murder.”

“Well this has been fun.” Bruce went to the door.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“You got nothing on me. Stop wasting my time. I didn’t kill Shannon so fuck you.”