Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files) (4 page)

“
Have a good day,” Lauren said, envious of the woman he was going to meet.  Hell, she was envious of all the women in the lifestyle.  What she would give to be able to relinquish all control.  She was such an anachronism.  The ache in her chest arrived that always accompanied this familiar time-traveling experience.  She caught herself rubbing her wrist in remembrance and dropped her hands, as if to rid herself of a bad dream. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

* * * *

“So why are we here and not grabbing something to eat?”

“
I left a copy of those photos here,” Connor answered Jax while pushing the doors open to the office.  Someone was here, for the door had been unlocked and the lights were on.  “Order us in some pizza.  I think we’re going to be here for a while.”

Walking into the open area where the cubicles were, Connor spotted Taryn at her desk.  Her glasses were perched on the end of her nose and her fingers were flying across the
ever-present keyboard.  Her staple coffee mug was in place and he knew that she’d been here a while.

“
Ortega, the client list of Incandesce is on your desk,” Taryn said, not taking her eyes off of the monitor in front of her.  “Marilyn is listed, but not Terry.”

“Thanks
, squid,” Connor said, using the nickname that they’d given her because of her past years in the Navy.  He shrugged out of his jacket and walked around to his side of the cubicle.  Throwing it on his desk, he ignored the list Taryn had left for him and opted for the folder containing the crime scene photos.  Looking at the first one, the angle was wrong for what he needed.  He went through three more before finding what he knew would be there.  “Jax, look at this.”

“Is that
—”

“The police weren’t trying to locate where the rope was purchased,” Connor
said, standing up and walking down the hallway.  “They’re trying to locate who customized the clit clamp to include the rubies.  And that could only mean one thing.”

Connor strolled to Crest’s office, having no doubt that he’d be there.  The door was ajar and he rapped a couple times before pushing it open.  He was surprised to find Jessie standing a few feet away from the desk with her arms crossed
in annoyance.  It was obvious that he’d interrupted something from the tension in the air, but before he could apologize and back out, Crest waved him in.  Shit, was that sexual tension?

“Connor, what have
you got for me?”

Connor was still looking at Jessie.  He didn’t miss the hurt that flashed in her eyes or the way she straightened her back before walking toward the door.
He’d previously suspected that she had a thing for Crest, but now he was sure of it.  She was the youngest member of their team by at least a year and cute, with long brown hair that had a natural wave and stunning green eyes.  The color reminded him of Lauren Bailey’s eyes.  This kid was way out of her league with Crest, though, as far as worldly experience was concerned.

“Hello, Connor,” Jessie said, her
smile strained.  “Before you leave, I have the supplemental contact reports that the detectives filed this morning.  Marilyn Sweeney wasn’t raped.”

“Thanks, Jessie,” Connor replied
in a supportive tone.  He waited until she left before crossing the floor and taking a seat in one of the guest chairs.  “You realize that girl has the hots for you and you give her nothing but grief.”

“She’s
young enough to be my daughter,” Crest replied, waving a hand in dismissal.  “What have you got, Cupid?”

“There’s a vendor that custom
izes high-end bejeweled implements and toys for the BDSM community.”  Connor leaned forward and let the photo slide across the desk.  “Look closely at the picture and you’ll see it.  Because it’s such a specialized item, the police are trying to tie Terry with the purchase.  Can you have one of your contacts get a better picture?”

While Crest studied the picture, Connor couldn’t help but let his thoughts go back to Lauren Bailey.  He hadn’t expected her to be so
stunning.  She wasn’t normally the type of woman he’d go for, but there was something intriguing about the way she carried herself.  Her hair was long with vivacious curls alit with a corporeal shade of fire red.  Her green eyes were stunning and reminded him of those same emeralds she’d fastened to the silver clad, white leather and fur-lined cuffs he’d liked.  There was underlying distrust between them that he’d love to be able to extinguish with his favorite flogger and the application of some quality time in his bedroom.  Maybe she was exactly what he needed to rid himself of the bitter taste that Ashley had left behind these past weeks.

“I’ll have a closer photo for you within the hour,” Crest said, handing the picture back.  “When you were attending the clubs regularly, how often did you go?”

“Usually Saturday nights,” Connor answered, flicking the pic against his knee.  “On rare occasion, a Friday night would be within my MO.  I haven’t been by Whip in a long time, so I’ll stop in there next Friday. It’s only been open for less than a year.  If I’m seen there during the week, that’ll put up red flags. I heard last night that Marilyn had started to play over there more often.”

“Terry mentioned it,” Crest said, looking up from the picture.
 

“
Do me a favor, and ask Terry if he knew of any friendships she may have cultivated there.  Maybe Jax knows some of the women she might have passed the time with.  Also, who did she play with that knew shibari?  That design was rather intricate, so whoever it was was well versed.  Jax said he was checking that angle.”

“
I’ll talk to him today,” Crest promised.  “Jax play during the week?”

“
Like a tomcat on the prowl.” 

“You work the vendor angle and anything else that comes your way throughout the week.”  Crest ran a hand through his hair and sat back.  “Jax can continue to gather information while he’s at the club
s and see what Doms are privy to shibari.”

“Has Terry made bail yet?”

Crest shook his head.  “He’s scheduled to appear in court tomorrow morning.  I was able to pull in some favors.  Lou Moser will be representing him.”

“He’ll make bail then,” Connor replied
confidently.  Moser was one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the state.  Leave it to Crest to be able to get the man to drop everything for a friend. Connor wondered what long ago favor he was cashing in. “How’s Terry holding up?”

“About as good as can be expected,” Crest said, crossing his arms.  Connor swore he heard the starch scratch as he crossed his arms.  “Marilyn’s parents arrived in town last night.”

“Let me guess — they’re out for blood.”

“Believe it or not, they stopped by the county jail and offered their support.”  Crest leaned back in his chair.  “They don’t believe he did it either.”

“He must have had a damn good relationship with them.”  Connor shook his head in disbelief.  In his experience, even family members turned on the suspect.  “What about his family?”

“I spoke with Terry’s father last night.  He’s driving down today and should arrive in
plenty of time for the bail hearing.”

Connor knew enough about Crest’s background to know that he’d grown up in north
ern Minnesota, near the Iron Range.  While Crest had joined the service, Terry had stayed in his hometown and married young.  They’d maintained their friendship.  That was the extent of his knowledge and with Crest so private about his personal life, he was fairly sure that was all he was going to learn without a damn good reason.

“I’m going to go look at those criminal reports that Jessie put on my desk,” Connor said, standing up.  “I’ll work the vendor angle and keep you posted. 
Jax picked up something interesting last night as well.  The Dom that Marilyn had been playing with a few months ago?  His name is Greg Winters.  Turns out, no one has spoken with him for a couple weeks — not even the sub that he’s been topping regularly.  I’ll track him down and see if I can’t find out more information.”

“Good.  Anything else?”

“I had Taryn check out what the police released to the press,” Connor said.  “I thought maybe they kept the shibari thing under wraps, but that isn’t the case.  At least, not necessarily.  The media leaked she’d been tied up, making the public think it was strictly bondage.  We can use that to our advantage.  Jax has quietly been checking out the Doms and Dommes who practice it regularly.”

“
Keep me posted.  Stick around for an hour though.”  Crest uncrossed his arms and reached for his phone.  “I’ll have those photos delivered.”

Connor nodded his agreement and walked back to his desk.  Taryn’s fingers were still flying over her keyboard, while Jax had the phone glued to his ear.  Ethan and Kevin were absent.  Scanning his desk, he saw the folder that Jessie had promised would be there.  Sitting down, he knew that he should be concentrating on the case, but images of a certain
fair-skinned ginger kept flashing through his mind.  He was thinking a visit was called for, sooner rather than later.  After all, they both had to eat dinner and there was nothing to say he couldn’t mix a little business with potential pleasure. 

Chapter Four

Lauren poured herself a glass of red wine, intending to use Wednesday evening to finally put the finishing touches on a collar that was due at the end of the week.  The client was a regular, and from her understanding was giving this particular gift to his submissive at their collaring ceremony.  She’d already punched the intricate pattern of holes into the thin white strip of leather.  All she needed to do now was fasten the settings and insert the sapphires she’d already cut to size.  Absorbed completely in her work, she left the kitchen intending to retrieve some tools from the spare bedroom where her extra machines were kept. When the doorbell rang, she stumbled mid-stride and wondered when she’d get some damn peace so she could work.

“Shit,” Lauren muttered underneath her breath.  Her wine sloshed over the rim and she watched as the droplets landed on her carpet.  “Great…just
what I needed right now.”

Quickly closing the distance to
the island that separated her living room from the kitchen, she carefully set the wine glass on the counter and snagged a few paper towels.  Leaning down, she blotted the tiny stains as best she could.  She made a mental note to mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to place over the stains before bed.  The doorbell rang again. 

“
Just a minute, please,” Lauren called out. 

It was either Betty Finch from next
door wanting to borrow more sugar or it was the police.  She was kind of hoping for the detectives, because Ms. Finch could talk for hours without saying anything.  Standing, she tossed the towels into the sink and made her way to the door.  Swinging it open revealed the last person on earth Lauren would ever have expected to be in the hallway.  It was also the man whom she’d had trouble erasing from her mind for most of the afternoon.  Work had been the only cure.  She found herself having difficulty forming complete thoughts without stumbling across another question in her mind.  What was he doing here and how had he known where she lived?

“
I hope you haven’t eaten,” Connor said, flashing a smile.  He’d shaved, revealing a masculine jawline.

“I—
” Lauren caught herself before she answered.  Did she want to have dinner with him…a self-proclaimed Dominant who was currently without a submissive?  Plus, it made her wary that he personally came by her apartment without calling first.  She finagled her way around the question.  “How did you know where I live?”

“Perks of the job,” Connor replied.  He shoved his hands in his jacket and gave her a pointed look.  “
I’m a private investigator, but I promise I didn’t do a background check on you.  At least not yet.  I had actually tried to make it back to your shop on Sunday, but work got in the way.  I was hoping you’d have dinner with me.”

“
I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Lauren said with a small smile.  She tightened her fingers on the doorknob.  She couldn’t bring herself to release it.  “Like I said, I’m not into the whole tie me up and spank me thing.”

Lauren heard the
faint sound of a deadbolt being released.  She closed her eyes and knew that Ms. Finch was about to perform her signature move of pulling her door open with her chain attached to see who was talking to whom in the hallway.  Lauren could either invite him in to avoid the after-action interrogation or leave him out there to fend for himself.  Unsure of how she would answer the older woman should she question who he was, Lauren made a hasty decision.

“Would you like to come in?” Lauren asked, taking a
quick step back.

“I’d like that,” Connor replied, his gaze
fleeting sideways as Ms. Finch’s door started to open.  She breathed a sigh of relief when he crossed the threshold.  Lauren closed the door quickly, dismissing the sliver of guilt at knowing that Ms. Finch was now left wondering who’d been at her door.  “I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind.”

That grabbed Lauren’s attention.  She spun around and faced him.  Why did her apartment suddenly seem smaller? 
He took his time looking around her place before turning to face her.  It didn’t take her that long to realize he’d only asked her out to dinner as an excuse.  He’d said he was a private investigator and now he wanted to ask her questions.  That took care of her initial problem of turning him down for dinner.

“About?”

“Marilyn Sweeney.”

“Of course,” Lauren said, throwing her hands up.  How could she have been so blind?

“It’s my understanding that you sold her a few pieces from your shop — a plug in which you decorated the base with rubies, along with matching nipple and clit clamps.  Did she happen to mention for whom she purchased them?”

“The police came by here yesterday with pictures
already.  Why didn’t you say something last weekend?  I didn’t realize that you were investigating her murder.”

“I
’m really not at liberty to say much,” Connor said with a bit of mirth, as if knowing she would almost explode with curiosity.  “If you don’t want to answer my questions, I understand.  It would help with my investigation though and any insight into your conversations with Marilyn would be greatly appreciated.”

“You didn’t have to pretend to be interested in me for that,” Lauren
reiterated, not sure how she felt about being misled.  Why it should matter when she’d already turned him down, she didn’t know.  Maybe it was the principle of the thing.  Walking around him, she crossed the room to grab her wine.  A little alcohol might be the fortitude she needed.  “I’ll tell you the same thing I told the police.  Joel sometimes lets me stop in during social hour to display my work.  Marilyn was there a couple of months ago and said she wanted to surprise her husband with a collar.  We discussed the different types of jewels and she specifically wanted rubies, saying that her husband liked the color.”

“It’s usually the other way around, though.
  It’s highly unusual for a sub to buy her own collar.  Did she say why
she
was purchasing it and not Terry?”” 

Connor took a few steps
her way.  Lauren could see that this wasn’t going to be a one or two question and answer conversation, so she turned and walked to the small kitchen table that she’d bought at Ikea.  It wasn’t expensive furniture, but it definitely fit her personality.  She set her glass down and took a seat.

“She mentioned that it was her way of making things up to him.”  Connor’s blue eyes seemed to take in everything and
as they landed on her wrist, she realized that she’d wrapped her right hand around it.  Immediately releasing her hold, she placed her fingers on the stem of the glass and started to twirl it.  “I didn’t pry.  That was basically the sum of the conversation.”

Connor closed the distance and pulled out a chair.  Lauren knew immediately that sitting down had been a bad idea.  H
e’d chosen the seat next to her, although he’d pulled it out so that he would be directly facing her.  As he made himself comfortable, she shifted her knees so that they wouldn’t touch.  It also dawned on her that the heat in her apartment was set a little too high.  She’d have to fix that. 

“How long ago did she pick up her order?”

“Winter months are always my busiest and she’d placed her order a month and a half before Christmas.  As you said, the plug, clamps and collar.”  Lauren couldn’t help but lower her gaze to his chest.  Connor’s brown leather jacket was open, revealing a black cotton shirt that had a V-neck collar.  His neck was weathered from many hours exposed to the elements and his chest had just a hint of coarse black hair.  “Um, she picked it up around two weeks ago.  Right before the holiday.”

“In the store?”  Connor rested his arm on the table, snagging her gaze.  His hands were large, with long, thick fingers.  Images of him wielding a flogger came to mind, making her a little breathless.  Lauren picked up her glass and took a healthy drink. 
She was too old to react like some schoolgirl.  Thirty was right around the corner.  “Did she elaborate then?”

“No,” Lauren replied, shaking her head.  The movement wasn’t only in response, but more of a way to clear the
wicked thoughts that were entering her head.  “We exchanged pleasantries; she paid with a credit card and then left.  That was the last I heard from her.  The police were here yesterday with the same questions.  Are you working for her husband?”

“I can’t
disclose who I work for,” Connor said with a small smile.  She noticed that he’d nicked his chin shaving and for some reason, the sight captivated her.  Lauren finished her wine and then realized that she hadn’t offered him any.  “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything to anyone about my inquiries.”

“If it helps c
onvict whoever murdered her, then I’m glad I could help.”

Lauren pushed her chair out and stood.  In a way, she was grateful for the work she still had to do this evening.  It would keep her mind busy and not on things that weren’t good for her mental wellbeing.  An image of Rick
Hastlen, the accountant in apartment 310 sprang to mind.  He seemed upstanding, although his thinning hair wasn’t all that attractive.  Maybe she should take him up on his offer for a movie.

“Lauren,” Connor said softly as he gradually unraveled his tall form from the chair.  The action brought him closer than she would have thought and she had to tilt her face to look at him.  “I
could have easily stopped by your shop to ask you these questions.  I waited for this evening because I really would like to take you to dinner.”

The genuine look on his face convinced her he was telling her the truth, but it didn’t change anything.  Connor
Ortega was exactly the type of man she didn’t want to be with.  Lauren went to touch her wrist when he beat her to it.  The warmth of his skin burned into hers.  He had a sensual aura about him that one could only be born with.  Unfortunately, she wasn’t the woman for him to use it on.

“I can’t,” Lauren replied, her voice barely a whisper.  She cleared her throat and forced herself to step away.  She was grateful that he let his fingers slide off of her wrist.  Turning, she quickly walked to the door.  “I wish you luck in your investigation.  I’m sorry you wasted your time.”

* * * *

Connor felt like he was watching a wary feline making her way to safety.  It was obvious she was a strong-willed, business-savvy woman who was used to being independent.  It was what was underneath the mask that he was interested in.

Lauren
had used some sort of clip to keep her hair up and away from her face.  Her curls ran amok and seemed to rain down around head.  He couldn’t help but watch the way the cream denim hugged her ass as she walked across the floor.  The rich green of her silk buttoned-down shirt brought out the deep auburn color of her hair and made him want to remove the clip.  The nervous gesture that she did with her wrist didn’t escape his notice either.  Why did he make her so apprehensive?

“Are you seeing someone?” Connor asked, not moving from his spot in the kitchen.  He needed to know why she was turning him down. 
His chest tightened as he awaited her answer.  “I apologize if I’ve overstepped.”

“No,” Lauren replied, but immediately bit her lip.  He fought back a smile as
she realized her mistake and welcomed the relief he felt over her response.  This meant there was no reason she couldn’t spend time with him.  They were close in age, so what was her hang-up?  “I just…don’t think it would be a good idea.  I’m not looking for anything permanent right now.”

“Then we’re
on the same page.  I’m not looking for anything along those lines either.”  Connor reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his phone.  He held it up for her to see.  “If you’d rather eat in, I know a great Chinese restaurant that delivers.  I think I asked you this before, but have you already eaten?”

“No, I haven’t.
” 

Again, Connor got the feeling that she recognized her answer wasn’t what she should have conveyed.  Did she know that
her beautiful face telegraphed every emotion she was feeling?  Her irritation was making itself known, but Connor felt not the slightest bit guilty for leading her to where he wanted this to go. 

“
Mr. Ortega, you’ve asked your questions and I’ve answered them.  There’s really no need to take this further.”

“Lauren, it’s just dinner.”  The more time
s she turned him down, the more he wanted this meal to take place.  She made him want to know more about her.  “And please call me Connor.  Mr. Ortega is my father.”

Lauren’s green eyes seemed to come to life
and deepen in color.  She left the safe haven of what could have been his exit and marched herself into the middle of the room.  At least her short-tempered reaction got her to release her wrist and confirmed the old adage he’d always heard about redheads regarding their quick temper.  He had to wonder about the other saying involving sexual fire.

“
Can we just face facts? Your looks alone could pay your way into any club, while I will never be able to fit into a size two.  You play at the clubs and I don’t.  You’re a Dom and I’m as vanilla as it gets.  So why are we even standing here talking about this?  I have work to do, as I’m sure you do as well.”