Slenderman Read online

  “I know how dangerous your job is.” He nuzzled the sensitive skin behind her ear. “I’ve experienced it up close and personal. If I were going to run, it would have been back then.” An open-mouthed kiss to the patch of skin made her shiver. “Have faith in me and jump. We’ll have an amazing future together. I promise.”

  She hugged the promise to her. Rhys never made them unless he could keep them. “You swear if you have any problems we’ll talk first? Even hash it out with a therapist if we need to?”

  “Promise.” He nibbled her lobe.

  His arms loosened, and she turned to sink into him as he claimed her lips. She could spend hours kissing him. Hands tangled as each of them tried to touch the other with a giggle she wiggled her arm free and wrapped it around him.

  A generic ring pierced the darkness.

  “No,” she growled, vowing to kill whoever was on the other end of the line. She rolled over and grabbed her cell. “It’s Redden.”

  “Answer it,” Rhys said.

  With a disgruntled huff, she took the call while Rhys rubbed her back. “Have you found her?”

  “No.”

  Her heart dropped. Where could that vicious viper be? Could Lucy be sitting somewhere, planning how to kill Evan? Or had she fled? Not trusting her own gut as it was a tangled mess, Jo gripped the cell and inhaled Rhys’s scent. His presence helped soothe her. “Where do you think she is?”

  “I think she’s left the country.” His voice was gritty as if he’d been using it for hours on end.

  Rhys’s soft sigh reminded Jo he needed to be up early tomorrow. Needing to share the information she’d compiled, she pushed the covers off of her legs. “Redden, give me a minute.” Leaning over, she took a kiss. “Get some sleep. I’ll be back in a bit.”

  “Rain check?”

  “How about tomorrow night? You, me, and the hot tub.”

  His teeth flashed in the semi-darkness. “It’s a date.”

  With that promise hugged close to her heart, she rolled out of bed, grabbed her robe from the back of the door, and made her way to her office. After unlocking it, she sat in her recliner in the dark. “Sorry, Rhys needs to be up at five tomorrow. I think she’s left the country too. Abe combed through Lucy’s accounts and discovered that all of them had been closed weeks before she came for Evan. I found out her parents’ house was sold last year after being on the market for a while.”

  “So no ties to keep her in the country.”

  “No. Which means she’s set up somewhere else. Probably somewhere with no extradition treaty.” Jo’s stomach churned. Dammit. To be so close to the killer and she slipped through Jo’s fingers like sand. It enraged her. She wanted to fling off her robe, grab her gun, and hunt Lucy down like the dog she was. She would get away with all of it unless some fluke of fate caught her at the border.

  “You’re probably right, but I’m gathering every video of the border crossings and putting it through facial recognition. I want to know for a fact she’s gone before I call off the manhunt.”

  “Female-hunt,” she teased, needing a lighter note, or she wouldn’t sleep at all that night.

  “Whatever. Can I ask you a question?”

  “Shoot.”

  “Why did you never suspect Lucy?”

  Jo thought back to their investigation of the first death. It was as plain as day looking at it now. The anger in the stab wounds of Mark’s body. How the break-in could have been easily staged. Back then it had seemed random with small electronics, gold, and jewelry missing. “She was on the original list, but they had broken up the year before.” She hummed as she dredged the dates up. “They broke up just after school started in August and he was killed in April of the next year.”

  “That’s cold.”

  “Exactly. It’s like she planned it now that I’m looking back. But back then there was just so much time that had passed, and the two had remained friends based on Lucy’s statement and Mark’s parents’ statements.”

  Redden sighed. “I know the feeling of seeing it all in hindsight. What made you take her off the suspect list?”

  “She had, what we considered, an airtight alibi.” She shook her head. “She and her new boyfriend were supposed to head up to his grandparents’ house for Easter weekend.”

  “Supposed to, but didn’t?”

  “No, they went up, but it was a day later. The boyfriend’s hot water heater broke, and he needed to meet the repairman. So while they waited, they . . . as Lucy put it, ‘screwed each other on every available surface’ until they fell asleep.”

  “The repairman?”

  “Came late in the afternoon and Lucy was there.”

  “You think they had sex earlier and she what? Drugged him to sleep longer? How far away was Mark’s house?”

  “Less than a mile. And yeah, I think she drugged the guy and then slipped away.” It was the only explanation unless the boyfriend was in on it. But if that were the case either he’d be dead by now or still helping Lucy.

  “What was the boyfriend’s name?”

  “Jason Treadmore.” She folded the belt of the robe end over end. Maybe Redden would catch something they had missed. “I already had Sullivan check the man out. He’s in Montana. Happily married with one kid and a baby on the way. To be safe, we pulled his IP address and his bank records going back to the first murders. We gave the information to Legends of Stone, and according to them, Jason has never played the game.”

  His sigh ghosted over the line. “Well, if I hear of anything, you’ll be my first call.”

  “Thanks, Redden. I’ll see you at the wedding. If I don’t hear from you before and if you head this way again, we’ve got a bed waiting for you.”

  “I know we’ve always had a contentious relationship, but it really has been interesting working with you, Rayburn.”

  “Same here.”

  She hung up with a smile on her face. At least something positive came out of this entire mess. She and Redden had made amends, and it was nice having a contact she could trust at the Bureau.

  Chapter 14

  It was the first time Jo had been home in time for dinner in weeks. Follow that up with an early bedtime, and she was in heaven. Late nights spent on cases and wedding fittings was her life now.

  She felt as though she had just dozed off when a horrifying scream rent through the entire house. Scrambling from the bed, Jo and Rhys knew the sound well. Rian or Evan was in the middle of another nightmare.

  “I’ll take Rian,” Jo said taking the stairs two at a time. Evan did better with Rhys and Rian seemed to do better with Jo.

  “Okay.” Rhys cracked the door of Evan’s room while she opened Rian’s.

  Whimpers and sobs poured from the kid, and she hurried to his bedside to turn on the lamp. Even though Rian wore a man’s face with a shadow of a beard pushing its way across his sculpted jaw, he was still a kid to her.

  “Hey, Ri. Another nightmare?” Jo watched until his brown eyes peered at her from under his sleep-mussed hair.

  “Yeah.” His voice was deep and rough but held a note of fear.

  Jo perched on the edge of his queen-sized bed and pushed his hair back from his eyes. “You know I’m going to catch her, right?”

  “I know.”

  “But until then, you’re safe here. You and Evan both. Joseph and Jenna have so much security blanketing this place that no one will get through, and if they do,” Jo pointed to Lisa who hovered in the doorway, her gun held confidently in her hand. “They’ll have to get through all of us first.”

  A quiet sob then her lap was filled with a six-foot-two-inch kid. Compared to Jo’s five-foot-three-inch skinny frame, Rian was like a St. Bernard trying to seek comfort in the lap of a Chihuahua.

  “I’m so sorry, Jo. I really d
idn’t mean for this to happen.”

  She shushed him and wrapped her arms halfway around his bulky mass. “No more sorries, remember? How about if Lisa sleeps in here with you tonight? Hmm? And tomorrow you’ll be with Mom and Pop so even if Lucy comes back, she doesn’t know where my parents live.”

  He froze. “That’s true.”

  “Exactly. Besides, you know Carl was the chief of police so he’ll be ready for anything. And his dog will bark at anyone who comes close to the house so you all will have plenty of time to hide.”

  Rian’s head bobbed on her shoulder. “I forgot about Jasper. He’s a good dog.”

  “See, you’ll be safe as a bug in a rug.”

  He snorted at that. “Bugs aren’t safe in rugs. Marta vacuums every week so they’d be sucked up.”

  Jo smiled. “I forgot about that. You about ready to try to sleep a bit more?” Lord knew she was ready to drop.

  “I think so.” His arms tightened around her. “I love you, Jo.”

  “Love you too, hon. Now crawl under the covers. Lisa’s already pulling the trundle bed out so she’ll be nice and comfortable next to your bed.” Jo tucked Rian in and tweaked his nose. “Just don’t step on her when you get up.”

  Lisa coughed but didn’t interrupt Jo calming Rian down.

  “I’ll remember.” His eyes blinked a few times. Jo turned off the lamp and headed for the door.

  Once the nightmare was over and the adrenaline rush had calmed, Rian usually slept the rest of the night.

  Rhys was propped on the wall outside of Rian’s room.

  “Evan?”

  “Didn’t even wake up.” Rhys laced their fingers together, and they headed for their bedroom. “Are they any closer to finding Lucy?”

  “No, Redden said she didn’t cross at any border crossings that he could find.”

  “So she’s still here.” Worry wound through every word.

  “I don’t think so. I think she’s gone. How? I’ve no clue, but I think she’s holed up somewhere drinking fruity drinks and wearing a smug smile.” Jo ground her teeth at the image. “We’re still meeting your friends tonight, right?”

  “Yes.”

  She refrained from grumbling. This Valentine’s Day was their chance at a do-over since their last one had been a nightmare. Just because she had to share it with his friends didn’t mean it would suck necessarily, but if she had to arrest one, then she would not get lucky tonight. Which would suck since she had bought the gorgeous bustier and black silk stockings Rhys had been eyeing in her lingerie catalog. She’d even purchased the harlot red for him instead of black.

  “It won’t be so bad, and I think you’ll enjoy meeting Gabriella,” Rhys said as they slid into bed. “She’s down to earth like you but is more artistic, since she’s an interior designer.”

  Oh God. Jo wouldn’t have much in common with an interior designer. The only thing she knew about decorating was how to get blood out of a carpet at a crime scene and how to patch up bullet holes in walls. She doubted either of those points would be good conversation starters with Gabriella. Shrugging, she would treat it as an interrogation and focus the conversation on the woman and Rhys’s friends. That should keep Jo from making too many mistakes.

  Her smile returned. Then again, maybe she could torture Rhys through dinner by letting him know what was under her dress. If she took that route, he’d be distracted to the point he wouldn’t be able to say what the conversation was even about, and when they hit the house, he’d all but rip the dress from her. It would be a win-win for her. Thank God she’d talked her mother into taking in Rian and Evan tonight. It meant the house would be Jo and Rhys could do anything they wanted in their home after dinner.

  ~ ~ ~

  The precinct was relatively quiet, and Jo caught up on paperwork which had piled up to the top of her computer screen. With the last signature for vacation approval done, she set it in the blue folder and took it to Captain Walker’s assistant for his approval before it went to HR.

  “Come on Jo, I’ll walk you to your car.” Sullivan pulled on the gray peacoat Elle had given him for Christmas. It looked so much better on him than the tan trench coat he’d worn for years.

  Jo slid her leather jacket on and slung her backpack over her shoulder. “Do you and Elle have plans tonight?”

  “Yes, I’m taking her to dinner and dancing at Ruth’s Place. They have a jazz group coming to play, and Elle loves jazz.”

  “Ruth’s Place? Wasn’t that a strip joint?” Jo thought for sure it had been a strip joint. When did it turn into a restaurant?

  Sullivan held the door open for her. “Not anymore, though they kept the pole in . . . you know what, it doesn’t matter. It’s a great place to eat and dance. Elle loves it. We can go there for lunch sometime and let you check it out.”

  “Unless they bleached that place down, my ass is not sitting in there.”

  “For crying out loud. Of course they ripped everything out and redid the place from top to bottom. I should know, considering how many times I had to go down to break up fights when I was a beat cop.”

  The cold wind of February slapped Jo in the face and made her shiver. She hated the cold, and the heavy gray clouds let her know rain was on the way.

  “Well then, I’m game. Besides, you and Elle will have a great time since you like jazz too.”

  “True. You, however, have no taste in music.”

  “Screw you, Sully. Rhys and I love the same kinds of music, and it’s rock, not something to put us to sleep.” Jo waved his reply away. “More importantly, what’d you get her?”

  “A Coltrane album she’s been missing. Coltrane Jazz Atlantic 1354.”

  “I hope she likes it.” Not that Jo knew if the album or the band was any good but based on Sullivan’s glee-filled expression he’d done well.

  “She will,” his tone brooked no argument, and she smiled at having gotten under his skin again. He was too easy to tease.

  “And Rhys?”

  “No idea. I can tell you I’ll be wearing sexy lingeri—”

  “Enough! Seriously, you didn’t get him anything else for Valentine’s?”

  Jo looked both ways before crossing the street. She didn’t care what the hand said, as a rookie she’d gone on several crash calls where the person had run the red light. “Nope, we’re having dinner with his friends then it’s just us and an empty house.”

  “Christ. You two need to find a hobby.”

  They stepped into the parking deck, and Jo sighed finally getting out of the whipping wind. It looked like more than she and Sullivan had the idea of getting off a little early. Bypassing the line at the elevators, they jogged up the stairs. “Again. Pot meet kettle. Didn’t you say your house was empty? My bet is Elle will wear some sexy something for—”

  “No. Not happening. I will not talk to you about my sex life.” Sullivan shuddered and ran for his car. “You’re evil.”

  “Especially on Valentine’s and it’s naughty, not evil,” she called to her partner’s rapidly retreating back.

  The slamming of his car door let her know she’d gotten the last word in as she clicked the button to unlock her car.

  It took her no time to get home. The bustier was a challenge to put on, but soon Jo was tucked in, and the dark blue dress that was Rhys’s favorite hugged her body. Not too tight to show the lace in the lingerie but tight enough to make her look as if she had a figure. She paired it with a pair of black heeled boots and she was ready to go.

  Rhys rushed in just as she finished zipping the boots and hurried to the bathroom.

  “Don’t slip and fall in there. We’ve got an hour and a half, and I have plans for when we get home.” She almost added they did not include a trip to the emergency room but held the words back as she did not want to jinx
them.

  His tousled gold head of hair popped out of the open door. “I’ve got plans too.” His eyes traced every inch of her body. “And there is no way I’m missing them.”

  She chuckled as she moved her gun and badge to her purse. Even off duty, she was still technically responsible if something happened. So she’d be limiting herself to one glass of wine tonight.

  Less than an hour later they were pulling out of the garage and on the way to the surprise restaurant Rhys had booked.

  She grinned broadly when Rhys pulled off the highway and barely refrained from bouncing in her seat. “You’re taking me back to the Steakhouse?”

  “I thought we’d relive our first Valentine’s date only without the argument and sleeping alone this time.” he teased then sobered. “Are you sure you’re okay with me including William and David and their dates?”

  “Yes.” Between Slenderman, all her other cases, the wedding, and Rhys’s schedule this was the first day they could all meet. She had come to terms giving up her Valentine’s Day as long as she could have a steak and Rhys, the rest was just window dressing. Besides, the fun parts would happen when they returned home alone.

  They pulled into the cottage-style white and brown building that looked like it belonged in Germany instead of Birmingham. The front looked nice and cozy. Luckily, the interior was large and roomy.

  Leaving the cold and rain outside, they stepped into the warm and inviting interior. It was decorated in dark woods and creams. The layout was like a pub with the tables in the back room and two side rooms off a central hallway that was carefully guarded by the hostess. Rhys helped her out of her coat, and they checked them before weaving to the front of the crowd in search of the hostess stand.

  “May I help you?” the slim dark-haired hostess asked, with a red smile that matched her red dress.

  “Yes, we have reservations for Harrison, party of six.”