Careless (5 page)

“He seems like a sexual sadist. He sends her these really graphic
letters about what he wants to do to her, and he’s mentioned a…” Josh cleared
his throat, “a tattoo she has.”

“She doesn’t have a tattoo.”

Josh cleared his throat, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “I guess
she does now.”

That meant she’d slept with this dirtbag in the two years since she’d
made love to him. That should narrow it down… some. “Does she know you’re
askin’ me to consult on this case?”

“No, Luc’s gonna tell her tonight.”

“I can tell you right now, she’s not gonna like it any more than I
do.”

“Son, she’s scared, really scared. Once she’s had a chance to think
about it, she’ll realize there’s no one better qualified than you to take on
this case.”

“Man, this is a mess.” Mike ran his hands over his cropped black
hair.

“Does that mean you’ll do it?”

“I’ll have to talk to Derek about gettin’ the time off.”

Josh pushed a contract across the desk. “It’s a done deal. I’ve
already got Derek’s permission.” He smirked when his son raised an eyebrow.
“You know, just in case you said yes.”

Mike picked up the sheaf of papers. “What the hell is this?”

“Your proposed compensation package.”

“Seriously?” They were offering to pay him more for the next twelve
weeks than he made during an entire year on the police force. He hadn’t
accepted the position for the financial rewards, he’d been thinking about
Tori’s safety and the debt he owed his old man, but he couldn’t deny it was a
nice perk.

Josh handed him a pen. “Just sign on the dotted line.”

“The police force is okay with me doin’ this?”

Josh smiled. “You’re my son. You think I’m gonna do anything to mess
with your career?”

Mike scribbled his name at the bottom of the page and tried to
ignore the little voice inside his head that told him he’d just signed his life
away.

“No, hell, no, Luc! I don’t care what you say. I’m not workin’ with
that son of a bitch!”

“What do you have against Mike? I’ve known him forever. He’s a great
guy and hell of a cop.”  Luc held up the bottle of scotch and waited for Tori’s
consent before he poured two glasses. “We need him right now, honey. I’m not
takin’ any chances this psychopath might make good on his threats while we’re
out on the road.”

A wave of uneasiness skittered up Tori’s spine. The threats were
getting more depraved with each letter he sent, and that last one indicated he
intended to follow her wherever she went. She couldn’t imagine that anyone
would be crazy enough to trail her around the continent, but she couldn’t
afford to assume anything until they knew who they were dealing with. “We have
a capable security team. Why can’t we just step it up for the tour?”

“Believe me, I intend to.” Luc passed her the glass. “That’s not why
we need Mike. I want someone with his skills as a detective to investigate this
case. I know the local cops have done the best they can, but I need someone
experienced, someone objective, who can afford to make this case his sole focus
for the next few months.”

Tori threw back the shot, hoping it would help ease the tension
coiling in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t know which was worse: the
prospect of working with that pompous ass or having to look over her shoulder
every five seconds. “If you think he can be objective where I’m concerned,
you’re dead wrong.”

She and Mike had seen each other plenty of times in the two years
since their night together, and each time, it took everything in her to pretend
he didn’t exist. How was she supposed to continue living in denial if the
people around her were determined to force him into her world?

“I don’t get it. Why do you two hate each other so much? You and Jay
get along great.”

“Don’t compare Jay to his worthless excuse for a brother. He’s a
good guy, a good husband, father... He doesn’t shirk his responsibilities or
make a fool of himself chasin’ after anything in a short skirt.”

Luc raised an eyebrow as he brought the glass to his lips. “Those are
pretty harsh words, darlin’.”

“Believe me, he deserves it.” She set the glass down on the counter,
wishing she’d accepted Luc’s offer of a driver. If ever she’d needed another
drink, this would be the time.

“Regardless of your personal feelings toward him, this is my call.
I’ve made my decision, and Mike is the man I want on this case.”

Tori crossed her arms. She wasn’t one to go down without a fight,
but she didn’t see how she could win this battle. It looked like her boss
already had his mind made up. “I can’t believe you don’t give a damn what I think
or how I feel about this.”

“I care about your safety more than your feelings right now,
darlin’.” He poured himself another shot of scotch as Tori licked her lips,
wishing she could indulge. She knew she could hold her liquor, but her boss was
a stickler about his one-drink rule whenever she was driving.

She knew Luc was only doing what he thought was best for her where
this stalker was concerned, but it didn’t make the pill any easier to take.
“Why can’t we just find another cop with his credentials... someone with the
same kind of experience?”

“We don’t have time for that. We hit the road on Wednesday. Besides,
Josh just texted me to tell me that Mike’s agreed to do it. It’s a done deal.”

“I can’t believe he’s doin’ this.” She knew Mike was callous and
insensitive, but she’d never imagined he could be so vindictive. He was just
taking this case to punish her. In her mind, there couldn’t be another reason.
“Why him?” She started pacing across the limestone floor, wishing she could say
or do something to change Luc’s mind. “Why the hell does it have to be him?”

“Listen, I don’t have time to debate this anymore. I’ve got work to
do. It is what it is. You’re just gonna have to deal with it.”

She recognized that tone of voice. Luc was warning her not to push
him any further. “Fine.” She raised her chin, hoping he couldn’t read the fear
in her eyes. “I hope he’s as good as you think he is. I just want my life
back.”

Luc gripped her head between his hands and leaned down to kiss her
forehead. “You’ll get your life back. Just give Mike everything he needs to
find that S.O.B., okay?”

Oh God, she hadn’t considered how much personal information she
would have to divulge. Mike would want to know the intimate details of her sex
life, every man she’d slept with... Her stomach roiled in protest. She couldn’t
imagine having that conversation with him. “This isn’t gonna work.”

Luc scowled as he let his hands fall to his sides. “It has to. I
don’t intend to go to your funeral if and when that bastard snaps.”

Tori felt a shudder move through her as she watched Luc walk down
the hall to his office. She wanted to believe Luc was just blowing smoke to
scare her, but that was a risk she couldn’t afford to take. She had to assume
the worst. If she let her guard down for even a second, it could cost her her
life.

The cellphone in her pocket buzzed and she quickly retrieved it. One
glance at the screen had her gripping the counter for support.
Mike
.
Damn, she thought she’d have a little more time to prepare herself before she
had to deal with him. “What do you want?”

“Well, hello to you too, princess. Long time, no talk.”

“Yeah, and that’s just the way I like it.”

“Too bad. Since we’re gonna be workin’ together now, you best get
used to havin’ me around.”

She would never get used to the idea of seeing that smug face every
day. It was bad enough his image still appeared in her dreams far too often. “I’ll
ask again... What the hell do you want?”

“I need to see you.”

“No.”

“Look, I’m not playin’ around. I need to get all of the info I can get
on this dirtbag if I’m gonna catch him. Where do you want to meet?”

Even after all this time, she still didn’t trust herself to be alone
with him. “Jimmy’s. Half an hour.”

“You really think meetin’ in a noisy, crowded bar is a good idea?
Why don’t we just meet at my place?”

“Are you crazy?” She took a deep breath and counted backward from
ten. If she overreacted, he’d know that her memories of their night together
held more weight than they should. She just had to keep reminding herself it
was a casual one-night stand. It meant nothing. That was the only way she could
get through the next weeks or months. “Look, I’m goin’ to Jimmy’s. If you want to
meet me there, be my guest.”

“Do you have a goddamn death wish? There’s some twisted loser out to
get you, and you wanna walk into Jimmy’s like you don’t have a care in the
world?”

“It beats the alternative,” she muttered. “You carry a gun, don’t
you?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Good, then I have nothin’ to worry about. I’ll be there in thirty
minutes. Don’t even think about keepin’ me waitin’ on you.”

Mike was waiting by the entrance to Jimmy’s
exactly twenty-seven minutes after Tori hung up on him. He was hyper-aware of
anyone and everyone passing through the doors, lingering in the parking lot, or
loitering by the nearby coffee shop. He wasn’t paid to be Tori’s bodyguard, but
he’d be damned if he let anyone get within five feet of her on his watch.

It had nothing to do with his personal
feelings, he told himself. He was just doing what any good cop would do, but no
matter how many times he tried convincing himself of that, it still didn’t ring
true.

A black stretch SUV pulled up to the curb
and a uniformed driver jumped out.

Mike rolled his eyes as a little blond head
popped out of the backseat, flashing a big grin at the middle-aged driver
trying to take her hand.

Tori laughed. “I don’t need your help just
yet, Ralph. Now, when you come back to pick me up, I just might.”

He dipped his head to hide his smile. “Text
whenever you’re ready, ma’am.”

She wrinkled her pert little nose at him,
as though she sensed a foul odor lingering in the humid air. “You know I hate
it when you call me ma’am.”

He chuckled. “Sorry, force of habit.”

Mike cursed when he saw a group of curious
onlookers eyeing Tori’s ride with interest. He beckoned her with his finger,
hoping she was going to follow orders for once.

She strutted up to him and fisted her hands
on her hips before looking way, way up at him. “I know you’re not expectin’ me
to run when you come acallin’.”

Mike smirked. He’d take her insolent
attitude over the silent treatment any day. He had to admit he’d missed her
smart mouth. “Yet here you are.”

She pressed a finger into his chest as she
glared at him. “No, here you are. I told you where to be and when and...” She
snapped her fingers. “Viola. Here you are.”

Mike grabbed her upper arm, shifting her
toward the entrance. “I’m not gonna stand out here arguin’ with you all damn
night. I’ve got a job to do, and I’d just as soon get started.” Before those
shiny, full lips tempted him to do something crazy, like kiss her.

“Fine by me.” She allowed him to take her
hand so he could lead her through the crowded bar to a small, empty table in
the rear corner.

As soon as people realized Tori Warner was
in their midst, the air seemed charged with energy and excitement. Mike had to
put his body between her and overzealous fans countless times before he finally
whipped out his badge and started asking people to step aside to let the lady
through.

“Jesus,” he muttered, sinking into a chair
across from her. “I don’t know how the hell you put up with that day after day.
It must be exhausting.”

She shrugged. “You get used to it after a
while.”

Mike didn’t think he could ever get used to
it. Nor could he get used to the idea of all of those rowdy drunks trying to
manhandle
his
woman. Good thing his relationship with Tori was strictly professional.
“You want somethin’ to drink before you start fillin’ me in on this case?”

“Yeah, a dry martini would be great.” She
smiled at the look of surprise on his face. “What? You thought I only drink
beer and the hard stuff? I’ve even been known to enjoy a nice glass of wine or
champagne a time or two.”

He’d be willing to bet this woman would be
full of surprises if he allowed himself to dig deeper. But he couldn’t go
there. Their relationship had to remain professional, cordial if possible, but
nothing more. After the last time they’d been together, he’d almost put his
fist through a wall when he turned on his TV to see her on the arm of some
boxer at a charity event not more than twenty-four hours after she’d left his
bed.

She turned around, as though she was
looking for a waitress.

“Do me a favor. Just try to keep a low
profile. As it is, everyone’s watchin’ your every move, just waitin’ for an
opportunity to pounce.”