“Oh, he’s in college. Oklahoma.”
Tori smiled. “That must be hard. Living in Texas and having a son that’s a Sooner?”
“Oh, no. Now that wouldn’t be allowed. He’s at Oklahoma State. That I can tolerate.”
Tori glanced at Sam, then moved to the file cabinets. “Well, we shouldn’t keep you. I want to take your current files with us. We’ll send someone over to get the rest.”
“I’ll help in any way I can, Detective Hunter, you know that.”
“Her son? Are you sure it’s the same guy?”
“We’re sure, Lieutenant.”
“Then maybe she’s in on it,” Malone said.
“No way,” Tori said. “These are her girls. She loves them as her own.”
“Okay. Sikes, get on the phone to Oklahoma State. Find out if he’s still there. Ramirez, call the PD up there in Stillwater. See if they have any murders similar to ours. If it’s him, maybe he’s done it before.”
“He has to be living here now,” Tori said. “We saw him on a Wednesday.”
“Why wouldn’t Belle know if he was living here?”
“Maybe he doesn’t want her to know,” Sam said.
“And you’re positive it’s the same guy?”
“Positive.”
“Well, it’s all we’ve got. Let’s pull the whole team in on this one. Get Adams and Donaldson up to speed.”
Tori was about to protest, but Sam nodded. “I’ll brief them.”
“Hunter,” Malone called as they were about to walk out. “A word.”
She sat back down, looking at him expectantly.
“Is she okay to be here? It’s only been four days.”
“She was cleared, Stan.”
“I know. I’m asking your opinion,” he said.
“She’ll be fine.”
He nodded. “Are you still staying with her?”
Tori hesitated, then nodded.
“You’re doing a good thing, Tori. Taking her under your wing like you have. That first week, I didn’t know if she could take it, you know.”
Tori nodded. If he only knew, she thought.
“You watch her, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her.”
Sam was standing beside Adams and Donaldson, file in her hand as she went over the events of the last two months. Donaldson was taking notes and even Adams appeared to be listening. They all liked Sam, Tori knew. How could they not? At first, they steered clear of her simply because she was Tori’s partner. But it was hard to resist that friendly smile and those green eyes. God knew Tori had tried. And last night, she had failed.
She sat down, her eyes again going to Sam. Her hands moved as she talked and both Adams and Donaldson watched her intently. Sam was dressed nearly identical to Tori today. Jeans with a long-sleeved shirt tucked in. Brown leather boots took the place of Tori’s sneakers, and Sam had a soft blue blazer over her shirt. She moved the blazer now and tucked both hands in her pockets. Tori’s eyes lighted where her shirt was pulled tight across her breasts.
Then she closed her eyes, remembering Sam’s hand as she’d cupped Tori’s breast last night. They had been so close.
And this morning, they had both been shy as they showered and dressed, neither discussing the events of last night. In fact, they both acted as if it didn’t happen. As if they hadn’t been kissing and touching and on the verge of making love.
“Hey, you daydreaming?”
Tori looked up, right into the green eyes she had been thinking of. Then Sam’s eyes darkened and Tori knew that Sam was remembering last night, too.
“Yes, I was.”
Sam sat down, still holding Tori’s eyes captive. “Should we talk about it?” she asked quietly.
“No. I’m afraid to talk about it,” Tori admitted. “Should I say I’m sorry?”
Sam raised her eyebrows. “Are you sorry?”
“No.” Then she smiled. “Should I be?”
Sam leaned forward. “Maybe I should say I’m sorry. I started it. I’m the one who wanted… to make love last night,” she whispered.
“I wanted that, too. But…”
Sikes slammed his phone down and walked over. “You’re not going to believe this. Richard Grayson hasn’t been enrolled at OSU in two semesters. Last known address is listed here, at Belle’s.”
Malone walked out of his office. “Ramirez? You got anything?”
He was still on the phone, and he shook his head.
“Okay. Hunter? How do you want to play this? You want to bring in Belle Grayson and question her?”
“No. We don’t really have anything. Other than the fact he was seen at the bar watching Julie.”
“Besides, if Belle does know anything, she may tip off her son,” Sam said.
“What about getting a court order for DNA?” Sikes suggested.
“On what grounds?” Malone asked. “No. We’ve got to get more.”
“It’s Wednesday. Let’s do the bar again. Maybe he’ll show.”
Malone nodded. “Okay. But I want two groups inside. Sikes, you and Ramirez just got married.”
“No way. I’m not doing it,” Sikes said. “I can’t.”
“And why not? Half the department thinks you’re gay, anyway.”
His eyes widened. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I told you, it’s the way you dress,” Sam said.
“What’s wrong with the way I dress?”
“You’re all coordinated, pressed, starched. You never wear anything out of season.”
“So I have a fashion sense-that makes me gay? Should I dress like Hunter here? Jeans and sneakers?”
“You’d rather dress like a lesbian than a gay man?” Tori asked with a smile.
“Bite me. I’m not doing it.”
“You
are
doing it,” Malone said. “Adams, Donaldson, you’ll be out front in the car.”
“We go in separately,” Hunter said. “No contact once we’re inside. We find our guy, we watch him. When he leaves, we follow. Even if he goes to another bar, we follow. We’ve got to find out where he lives,” she said.
“If we get an address, I’ll call the DA and see about getting a warrant for a search,” Malone said.
“We need to be inside by nine,” Tori said. “Let’s meet back here no later than eight.”
“You owe me big for this, Hunter,” Sikes said.
“John, wear black slacks and a tight black T-shirt. You’ll look more like you’re cruising that way,” Sam said. “We don’t want our guy getting nervous if you’re watching him. Tony? You don’t really look the part. Sorry. What are you going to wear?”
“I know what to wear. Don’t worry.”
“And how do you know what gay guys look like when they’re cruising?” Tori asked when they were alone.
Sam shrugged. “I’m not quite as innocent as I appear, Detective Hunter.”
“Is that right? And what do women wear when they’re cruising?”
Sam smiled. “I don’t know. I won’t be cruising. I already have a date.”
Their eyes met, and Tori felt her heart catch at Sam’s teasing words. “Yes, you do.”
Sam pushed away from her desk. “I better go home and change. What about you?”
“Yeah. I’ll swing by my apartment and see what’s left. I can’t remember the last time I did laundry.”
“You can always do it at my place,” Sam offered.
“I may take you up on that.”
“You want to get dinner? Or I can pick up some burgers and bring them back here.”
“That’s probably better.” Tori hesitated. “Will you be okay? Do you want me to go with you?”
Sam shook her head. “I’ll be okay. I need to do this.”
“Okay. Then I’ll meet you back here.”
“See you soon.”
Sam turned, then paused, her eyes finding Tori’s again. What she saw in Tori’s eyes in that brief glance caused her heart to race.
Chapter Thirty-six
Tori watched Sam walk into the squad room, and her heart stopped. She looked stunning. Tight-fitting jeans and black boots, snug shirt tucked inside, black belt. Tori’s eyes stopped at her breasts, watching her nipples as they strained against the fabric.
“You’re staring,” Sam said lightly. “I guess I pass.”
Tori blushed. “Sorry. You look… great,” she murmured.
“So do you. As always.”
Tori blushed again, then cleared her throat. “What you got there?”
“Burgers. No onions.”
“No onions?”
Sam smiled. “No onions.” She handed Tori one and sat down at her desk. “Heard from the guys?”
“No. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Sikes chickened out,” Tori said. “Mmm,” she murmured as she took a bite. They had missed lunch again.
“He’ll show. I think he’s secretly intrigued by the whole thing. I wouldn’t put it past him to try to pick up some guy, just to see if he could,” Sam said. “You know, he’s so homophobic, almost too much. You don’t suppose he’s been suppressing it, do you?” Sam laughed. “If he heard you say that, he would just die.”
“Say what?” Sikes asked as he and Ramirez walked in. Tori was speechless. John Sikes was the poster child of gay men.
Black slacks, tight black T-shirt, both of which were pressed. Cell phone clipped neatly to his belt. He looked… handsome. “Well?” He spread his arms. “Do I pass?”
“John, you look great,” Sam said. Then she looked at Tony.
“Damn, where’d you get the duds?”
“My cousin.” Tony grinned. “He gave me pointers.” Then he walked over. “Smell me. He said I’d have to beat them off.” Tori and Sam laughed. Even Sikes loosened up and joined in. “If you guys go home with anybody tonight, you’re both fired,”
Tori teased. “We’re working, don’t forget that.”
“As if,” John said. “If anyone asks me to dance, I might very well deck them.”
“Sikes, you’ve got to fit in. Please don’t cause a scene,” Tori warned. “Maybe you and Ramirez could get out and dance, huh?”
“Fast songs,” Sam added at John’s panicked look. Sikes pointed his finger at them all. “If you tell anyone about what happens tonight, I’ll make your life hell,” he threatened. “Like you don’t already,” Tori drawled, drawing laughs from the others. “What’s so funny?” Donaldson asked as he walked in. “Nothing,” Sikes said. “Where’s Adams?”
“He’s waiting out front. Are we ready?” Tori stood, grabbing the photo of Richard Grayson they’d had faxed over from OSU. “Here. Make sure Adams takes a look at this. Everybody’s got their cell, right? Donaldson, you guys park across the street. Sam and I’ll be in my Explorer. Sikes, you taking your car?”
“Yeah.” Then he looked at Tony. “That okay?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. Sam and I will go in first. You guys wait about fifteen minutes, then come in. We’ll try and get a table. You sit at the bar. Remember, no contact. We see our guy, we watch. If he shows, he might not stay long. I doubt any of Belle’s girls will show up. They’re all pretty spooked by all this. If there is no one there, he might just split.”
“And if he leaves, we’re to follow?” Donaldson asked.
“Yes. But we’ll be right behind you. We can’t lose him.” She looked at them all. “Any questions?” She glanced at Sam. “Okay, let’s roll.”
Tori and Sam sat quietly, watching the entrance. Sam glanced at her watch. It was almost nine.
“About time,” she said.
“Yes.” Then Tori leaned back, glancing at Sam. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Then she shrugged. “Maybe a little nervous. But you’ll be there. I’m not worried about anything.”
“Yes, I’ll be there.”
“I’m more worried about dancing with you, actually,” Sam admitted.
“Why is that?”
“You know very well why. Wouldn’t Sikes get a kick out of that,” she said.
“Don’t worry about them. We’re working. It’s all just an act,” Tori said.
“Is it? Is that all it is?”
Tori reached over and took Sam’s hand, letting their fingers entwine. “That’s all they need to know, Sam. Whatever is happening between us, it’s just between us.”
Sam nodded and squeezed her hand. “Tori, I wanted to thank you for last night,” Sam said quietly. “It was the first time I’d… let it out. I had been suppressing everything. I told everyone I was fine, that it hadn’t really affected me. But it did.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Tori whispered.
“It’s something I’ll never forget, something that will always be at the back of my mind.” Sam cleared her throat. “I was raped.”
Tori sat silently, her fingers still entwined with Sam’s.
“I feel better today, though. Every day is a little better, you know.”
“I know.”
Sam paused. “We haven’t… talked about… what else happened,” she said vaguely.
“Yes. But we don’t have to talk about it, Sam. It’s just… there.”
Sam nodded. “Have I told you that you’re the best partner anyone could have?”
Tori grinned. “You even had it engraved. But I think there are several men that might disagree with you.”
Sam touched Tori’s bracelet, running her fingers over the smooth surface. “I meant it then. I certainly mean it now.”
“Thank you. But I happen to think that you hold that title,” Tori said softly.
“Maybe we’re just good together.”
“Maybe so.” Then she squeezed Sam’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
The music was loud as soon as the door opened, and Sam reached for Tori’s hand, following her inside. She was a little nervous, she admitted. It was the first time she’d been around this many people since… well, since it happened. But Tori wouldn’t let anything happen to her, she knew that. They walked into the bar. It wasn’t crowded yet, and they found a table easily.
“Stay here,” Tori said. “I’ll get us a beer.”
Sam nodded, watching her walk away. She scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces. She found none. But it was still early. Then Tori came back, motioning behind her. “Annette is here. She must have come early.”
“Where?”
“She was at the bar. Her girlfriend was buying them drinks.”
“Why the hell would she come here? Surely she knows what’s going on?”
“Yes. Belle said she talked with all of them.”
“I don’t understand, Tori. Why would they put themselves in danger?”
“She’s young. They all are. I doubt they think anything could happen to them.” Then Tori glanced at the door. “Sikes and Ramirez just walked in.” She smiled. “Sikes looks like he’s scared to death.”
“I know this is awful, but I really hope someone hits on him,” Sam said with a laugh. “That would be priceless.”
Tori watched as they made their way to the bar, then looked back at Sam. “We’ve got some time. You want to dance?”
“Dance?”
Tori blushed slightly. “It’s a totally selfish request,” she admitted quietly.