Between Midnight and Dawn (8 page)

“And?” Kyle asked impatiently.

“I found an online record that’d been tampered with, just enough to keep it from linking with any searches on C.H.K.’s known victims.”

“No shit . . .” Kyle leaned forward. His hand tightened around his longneck bottle as anger and hope raced through him. “What else?” He knew there had to be more to bring Rob all the way to Port Huron. He could have told him that on the phone.

The women’s laughter filled the room, and even though he felt guilty at the invasion of their privacy, the sound calmed him, knowing Nicole was safely tucked into her home for the night. Where he could keep an eye on her.

Rob flipped the briefcase open and retrieved a handful of papers. “During the time period of the murder, some fourteen years ago, Barber worked as a beat cop in the same district.”

Filled with nervous energy, Kyle took the papers and stood, spinning around to pace across the room as he scanned the photocopied documents. As he shuffled through the pages, he noted an entry stating Allan Barber was the police officer who’d found the woman’s body in a ditch a short distance outside of town. He turned back to Rob, filled with frustration. “Why would he place himself at the scene? That makes no sense.”

Could I be wrong about the man?

“Keep reading,” Rob said grimly.

Kyle flipped to the next page, and froze. Barber had been in a civilian car, and another cop patrolling the area found him standing along the road next to his car. He’d initially thought Barber was someone having car trouble, before he’d recognized him as a cop from his own precinct. Barber told him he was preparing to call in the crime, having discovered the body in the ditch on his way out of town.

Kyle read the next paragraph out loud. “While Officer Peterson called it in, Officer Barber returned to the body, securing the crime scene.” He strode back to Rob. “So, what do you think?” He flipped to the next page. “There’s nothing here about bondage material, although her wrists and ankles had rope burns.”

“Right,” Rob said. “I think Barber returned to the body and removed the ropes and ball gag, ditching them somewhere before the cops arrived.”

Kyle kept reading, and noticed a discrepancy in the woman’s description, with C.H.K.’s victims. “He altered the report,” he murmured to himself.

“Looks like it. Changed her hair color from red to blond, her eyes from brown to blue.”

Kyle’s mouth tightened for an instant as it all came together. “Just enough to keep it from being flagged in a search.”

“Right. Bet he became a cop so he could cover his ass while he kept on killing.”

“Sonofabitch.” Kyle tossed the pages onto the coffee table. “We need to know everywhere Barber worked. Every murder or disappearance in the area while he was there.”

“I’ve got someone on it.” Rob leaned back and tipped his beer for another drink. “And I’m not going anywhere until we figure this out.”

“You took a leave?”

His partner shook his head. “Didn’t have to. When I went to the captain with this new information, he caved. I’m here officially to help.” He tossed Kyle his badge. “We have a month to gather substantial evidence against Barber. After that, he’s shutting you down.”

“Not until I get this prick.” He studied his badge, and hoped he’d be able to hang on to it when this was over, because no way was he giving up. Not in a month, not in a year, not ever. Knowing Rob had his back, eased some of the tension tightening his chest for Nicole’s safety.

The subject of the women’s conversation penetrated both of their brains at once. Two pairs of eyebrows rose as they stared at each other. Rob choked on his beer and Kyle snorted.

“
Nicole
,” Sheryl said, with a note of exasperation. “
Although good in a pinch, a vibrator is no substitute for a man.
”

Both women giggled, and the image of Nicole with a vibrator blasted across Kyle’s mind, making him instantly hard. He shifted and hoped Rob hadn’t noticed his predicament.

His friend’s chuckle indicated otherwise.

“
Well
,” Nicole said, primly, and Kyle visualized her lifting that cute chin of hers and staring her friend in the eye. “
I’m done with men for a while, so Mr. Happy will have to do. At least for now
.”

Rob was laughing now, and Kyle shot him a glare, not liking the idea of his partner visualizing Nicole with a vibrator.

“
Where’s your sense of adventure?”
Sheryl said teasingly. “
You’ve got two hunky guys in your backyard right now, and I say we march on over there and invite them over to dinner. I know I’d like to get to know that hot blond, better. A lot better.”
This statement was followed by more laughter, before Sheryl pleaded,
“Come on, do it for me.”

“You know, bro, we probably shouldn’t be listening to this,” Rob said, laughter still in his voice.

With the picture of Nicole and
Mr. Happy
still in his mind, Kyle strode over to the monitoring system and cranked down the volume, his gaze meeting Rob’s. Kyle grinned. “Well, fuck me.”

Glancing at the video feed, he saw Nicole step into the backyard with a plate of meat. The outdoor light was on, and he could clearly make out her features. She nervously bit her bottom lip. Sheryl followed her out and laughingly took the platter from her hand, then gave her a small shove toward the cottage. Nicole gave her friend a dirty look, but took a tentative step toward them.

“Oh, shit,” he said, glancing around at all the surveillance equipment crowding the living room of the cottage. He couldn’t let Nicole come in here.

Rob got to his feet, openly laughing now. “Let me guess, they’re coming over?”

“Nicole is.”

Kyle sprinted to his refrigerator, grabbed the chicken breast he had thawing for dinner, and entwined two unopened bottles of beer between his fingers. “Let’s go,” he snapped, racing toward the door.

Still grinning, Rob opened it for him and followed him outside as Nicole neared the front porch. Kyle screeched to a halt, and tried to appear natural, and not like the jackass he was. If she came inside, this night would end very badly.

“Hi, Nicole.” He was pleased at how normal he sounded. “We were heading over to see if we could share your grill.”

“That’s great.” She waved toward her house. “We bought way too much food, and need someone to help us eat it.” She held out her hand toward Rob. “Hi, I’m Nicole.”

Rob took her hand and gave it a firm shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Nicole.” He glanced past her to Sheryl, who was watching them expectantly.

Nicole laughed, glancing down at his plate. “Bring your chicken and we’ll toss it on the grill.” Her gaze slid back to Rob, her eyes held a teasing glint. “I’ll introduce you to Sheryl.”

She headed back toward her place. For a moment, Kyle’s attention was riveted by her nicely swaying hips, until Rob gave him a little shove and got his ass moving.

Chapter 8

Somewhat amused, Rob tried not to stare as Kyle flirted outrageously with the petite redhead. Although his partner had dated often, he’d never looked at a woman the way he was looking at Nicole Chambers right now.

It was good to see him so upbeat for a change. It’d been a long while since he’d seen that smile on his friend’s face. As a kid, Kyle had been fun and easygoing. Until his mother’s death. Since that terrible day, his friend had become a different person, walking around with a chip on his shoulder, angry at the world for what happened to his family.

Tonight, Kyle seemed more like the boy Rob had known, spending a lot of time playing with the dog tethered in the backyard. Charlie was cute, and the dog chain long enough so he could reach the patio if he wanted.

Kyle appeared happy and relaxed, treating Nicole with a gentle touch and catering to her needs as if it was his most important task. And Rob didn’t miss the way Kyle took every opportunity to touch her.

Not that Rob could blame him. Nicole was a beautiful woman, with a super sweet personality, sparkling brown eyes snapping with intelligence, and a lovely smile almost too big for her face. Petite and utterly desirable, she’d draw out protective instincts in any good man, as well as a healthy dose of lust.

His gaze swung back to the stunning blonde seated next to him on the outdoor patio chairs, and who even now was eating
him
up with her eyes. His groin stirred.
She
was most definitely his
kind of woman.

Tall and slim, her golden-blond hair fell in thick waves past her shoulders. He had the urge to run his hands through the pale, shimmering strands to see if it was as silky soft as it appeared. Confident and self-assured; she was the type of woman who knew what she wanted and went for it. And right now, it appeared she wanted him.

And who am I to argue?

The moment the thought slid through his mind, he silently cursed himself.

Focus, damn it.

He was here to catch the psychopath killing those girls, and that’s where he needed to focus all his attention, not on how badly he wanted to bed the woman sitting across from him. No matter the invitation in her eyes letting him know she was on-board with the idea. Getting involved with her would make maintaining his focus difficult.

“How long you in town for?” Her voice was pure sex. Her smoky green eyes peered at him from under thick lashes as she took a sip of her wine. Giving him a teasing smile, she licked a drop of the sweet liquid from her bottom lip.

“A couple weeks,” he answered, as images of all the things he’d like her to do with that pretty pink tongue flashed across his vision. He shifted uncomfortably as his erection pressed against his fly.

Since his engagement had crashed and burned a couple years back, Rob had been choosy when it came to dating, and hadn’t taken a woman to bed in, what? Six . . . seven months, at least. Way too long, evidently, given the way his body was reacting to Sheryl’s flirting. He couldn’t remember a time when his reaction to a woman had been so visceral. Never.
He was always in control.
Except tonight
, he thought ruefully.

His gaze flicked to the perfect roundness of her small breasts pressing against the thin, red tee she wore, his eyes lowering further as he took in the silky paleness of her stomach peeking out from under the black lace fringing the hem. He wanted to reach out and touch . . .

He tore his eyes away from her sexy form and tipped back his beer, trying to cool his jets. “I needed some downtime,” he continued, “and knew Kyle was vacationing here and decided it was as good a place as any to chill.”

“Oh.” She ran her index finger around the rim of her wine glass as she studied him. The gesture was downright sexy and turned him on even more. “Are you a cop, too?”

“Yes. Kyle’s my partner.” His voice sounded husky, even to his own ears.

“How long have you been partners?” Her words held a breathy quality, making it hard for him to concentrate on what she was saying.

The pressure under his zipper grew and he couldn’t help but fantasize about how good it’d feel to have those long legs of hers wrapped around his hips. The image in his mind had his heart tapping a hard drumbeat against his chest.

“Rob?”

Hell.
How long had he been staring at her like an idiot? “Eight years.”

“Hey, Catalino,” Kyle called out from over by the grill. “Did you want barbecue sauce on your chicken?”

“That’d be great.” He braced himself against temptation. As much as he’d like to take Sheryl to bed and not come up for air for days . . . he wouldn’t. He still had shit to discuss with Kyle and they needed to lay out a plan to catch this dirtbag before another woman was hurt.

Nicole’s laughter floated over to them as she called out, “Sheryl, the meat’s about done. Would you set the table?”

Rob held his hand out to Sheryl and helped her to her feet. Her hand was soft as satin, with long, slender fingers meant for a pianist. He was tall, nearly six-four, but even in those sexy flats she still reached his chin. It’d only take a dip of his head to press his mouth against her full, ripe lips, visibly damp from her sweet red wine. His jaw clenched, his throat working hard as he swallowed back his desire.

As if knowing exactly what was going on in his horny brain, her lips twitched, eyes sparkling with amusement. He reluctantly released her hand.

“Thank you.” She batted curly lashes over flirty eyes, brushing past him and toward the house, her slim hips swaying gracefully. Her earthy scent wafted around him, reminding him of fresh rain right before a thunderstorm.

Rob swore softly, knowing trouble when he saw it.

Rob gave Nicole a huge grin. “Everything was great.” He patted his stomach before turning to Sheryl. A panty-melting smile lifted his lips, his eyes reflecting male appreciation. “Thanks for inviting us over.”

“Any time, big boy,” her friend said in her best Jessica Rabbit imitation. And Sheryl did a great Jessica Rabbit.

Rob’s grin widened.

Nicole studied Kyle, wondering what was up with him. He’d been quiet during dinner, his expression giving away nothing of his thoughts. “Was the steak okay?”

His penetrating stare landed on her, and she fought the urge to squirm in her seat. “You bet. It was nice of you girls to share your steaks with us.”

“Not a problem.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Sheryl and I could never have eaten it all.”

She glanced at Sheryl, who was still flirting with Rob. Despite his charming manners, though, she got the impression the guy wasn’t falling for her friend’s seduction attempt. Not completely, anyway. Although that wouldn’t stop her BFF from trying. His disinterest would only bring out Sheryl’s competitive edge. Rob wouldn’t know what hit him. Laughter bubbled up inside her, and her lips curved. The guy didn’t stand a chance.

She felt a soft touch on her arm and turned back to Kyle.

“Want to take a walk?” he asked.

She hesitated, still wondering about his reserved manner through dinner. The sun was setting, and brilliant colors dotted the sky in waves of burnt orange and reds, the warm breeze was fresh and clean. It was a nice night for a stroll through the woods, something she’d done often until the night Larry had attacked her. Now she only came out here when Charlie needed a walk.

“Sure, Charlie could use the exercise.” She stood and lifted her plate. “Just let me clear the table first.”

Sheryl took the plate from her hand. “I’ve got it. You go.”

Nicole hesitated. “You sure?”

Rob began gathering up the dirty silverware, giving her a wink. “Sheryl and I have this under control. Go on, take your walk.”

She could see why her friend was so enamored with him. Laugh lines crinkled his eyes and mouth, and shaggy blond hair fell casually across his forehead, accentuating classically handsome features. But his good looks didn’t diminish the air of authority surrounding him. Slightly taller than Kyle, he was slim, with well-defined muscles visible under his lightweight dress shirt, and he’d turn most women’s heads.

But he didn’t do it for her. Her gaze swung back to Kyle as he unhooked Charlie from his dog tether, snapping on his leash. Her pulse raced. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t squash the desire flaring inside her every time he was near. No longer denying, she wanted the brooding, tall, dark, and handsome guy.

“Charlie seems
happ
y to go for a walk,” Rob said, adding an odd emphasis to the word ‘happy.’ Amusement sparkled in his eyes.

Kyle shot his partner an irritated glare.

What’s that about?

Taking Nicole by the hand, he led her down the path toward the woods at the back of her property. Charlie frolicked and pranced, tugging them forward in his excitement.

As they approached the edge of the trees Nicole heard an owl hoot in the distance, the sound muted, but clear enough. Her heart lifted. It seemed her hearing improved by the minute. Soon, she’d be back to normal. She smiled from ear to ear.

Entering the woods, Nicole said, “This way,” heading toward her favorite spot, a fair distance down the wooded trail, pausing frequently so Charlie could mark trees and shrubs along the way.

Spotting something off to the right, Charlie let out a bark and took off. Reaching the end of his leash, he jerked her forward, causing her to stumble.

“Whoa there,” Kyle said, wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her up against his chest as he grabbed a hold of Charlie’s leash. “Charlie. Sit.”

At the authoritative command, the dog immediately came to a stop, then bounded back to them and sat at their feet.

“You okay?” Kyle asked, peering down at her. But he made no move to let her go.

Swallowing the lump of desire in her throat so she could speak, she managed, “I’m fine.”

Still neither of them moved, remaining still as statues as they stared into each other’s eyes. Nicole’s heart raced, remembering the kiss in the kitchen. His arm tightened around her waist, his body tensing.

Charlie let out a bark, straining at his leash and breaking the spell.

To help cover her confusion, she crouched down to pet her dog. He’d slipped out of his collar earlier that evening to chase a squirrel. Fortunately, Rob had caught him before he got too far. “Hey, boy. Did you see another squirrel?” She smiled at Kyle. “I guess I need to get him a better collar.”

“Not a bad idea.”

Charlie gave her a sloppy kiss along her right cheek. Laughing, she stood and used the back of her hand to wipe away the dog slobber.

They began walking again. “So, how’d it go at the doctor’s today?” Kyle asked.

“Great.” She gave a happy sigh.

“So your hearing’s improved?”

“Yes. Although, I still have trouble hearing if someone’s talking too softly, or if there’s a lot of background noise. But otherwise, I’m good. I think I’ll start back at the shop full-time next week.”

They entered the clearing and she unclipped Charlie’s leash so he could run. He took off like a flash, running halfway into the open field before charging back their way and circling them, barking, before darting off again.

Nicole chuckled. “He’s so full of energy.”

“How’s it working out with him?”

“Charlie’s great. I love him already.” She glanced up, into Kyle’s warm hazel eyes. “I feel so much safer with him in the house. Thank you for helping me pick him out.”

The smile he gave her made parts of her body heat up in the most delicious way. “You’re welcome. Anytime.”

“This is his favorite spot to run.”

His smile turned into a scowl. “You bring him out here?”

“Um. Yeah.” She shoved her bangs out of her eyes, not caring for the way his eyes flared with irritation. Even with her hearing issues, there was no missing his disapproval.

“And when exactly is that?” he asked softly, but with a definite edge to his words.

She straightened, blinking in surprise at the change in his attitude.
What the heck?
“When I take him out to do his thing, and sometimes so he can get some exercise.”

The sound of Charlie running and barking, obviously chasing something in the woods, echoed around them.

“By yourself?” His mouth pressed tight.

Irritation swept through her and she placed her hands on her hips. “No, I bring my invisible roommate along.”

A muscle along his jaw flexed, but he didn’t say anything, making her feel like a naughty child.

Finally, she blew out an exasperated breath. “Charlie’s always with me, so I’m perfectly safe.”

At the look of disapproval in his eyes, doubt edged in and had her second-guessing her actions. It was probably okay during the day, but maybe not the wisest decision to bring him out so late at night. But he was full of energy, and if he didn’t get a chance to run it off he’d keep her awake all night wanting to play.

“Do you really think that’s wise, given the fact you’ve been attacked twice in the last couple months?”

Her pulse raced and her irritation vanished, for several reasons. One, he was right. Two, his masculine scent enveloped her and made her wonder what it’d be like to be held in his arms all night long. Her hands fell to her sides. And three, he had the nicest hazel eyes ever, like a warm bowl of melted honey. Even the commanding tone of his voice turned her on.

She licked her lips, and his gaze fell to her mouth. And just that quickly, the air between them sizzled like an electrical storm, sparks of desire washing through her. Her pulse raced when Kyle gripped her upper arms, tugging her against his solid chest.

He leaned down until their noses almost touched, and peered deeply into her eyes. “Nicole,” he gritted out, "it’s not safe. If you won’t think about yourself, think about me. How could I live with myself if I failed to protect you, and you were hurt? Do I need to stay up all night to make sure you stay safe?”