No Ordinary Killer (9 page)

“You are touchy tonight, aren’t you, Bucko? She turned
to face him. “You’d better go. Keep in mind we’re in this together.” Kneeling,
she offered him a breast. Savagely he pulled her to him, kissing her hard and
demanding. He flipped her onto her back and drove into her. She moaned and rose
to offer him more. He took her over and over. She was amazing in bed … Cooper
was a fool.

* * *

“Jesus!”

Cooper glanced up to find Art Bicsak, his arms
stretched across the doorway, blocking Dallas
out.

“What the hell you two doing here? This is no place
for you, Dallas.”

She pushed past Bicsak. “Because I’m IA or because I’m
female? It’s gruesome yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t handle it.”

“No one should have to see shit like this. It’ll haunt
you for years.”

“Don’t patronize me, Reynolds.” Dallas cased the room. “Looks like a
controlled killer … gone uncontrolled.”

“Meaning?” Bicsak asked, not moving from the door.

“Well, it looks planned out. The position of the body
for instance, it’s deliberate. The acts performed all have meaning,” she
paused, looking the perp over. “But, somewhere along the way the killer got off
on the blood splattering and went … into a frenzy.”

“That might be how the first killing took place, but
this time it’s all deliberate,” Cooper closed his notebook. “A complete copycat
murder. Right down to the number of stabs, folds in the sheets, and the
victim’s size, age, and sex preference I’m sure.”

“Our perp was a homosexual?”

“True in the first case, and I’m guessing it’ll be
true in this one.”

“You know what we have here? We have one sick bastard
who has more than Megan’s book for a blueprint.” Dallas wrote herself a note.

“I’m not sure I follow you,” Cooper watched as she
scanned the crime scene.

“We have a killer performing unspeakable acts and it
has nothing really to do with the murders.”

“I’m not following you either. Enlighten me,” Bicsak
shook his head.

“Ask yourself, what is the killer saying? Is he angry
with Megan Reynolds? Or, is he angry with how the original cases were handled.”

“He feels we screwed up and these murders will keep
happening until we get it right?” Cooper added to her scenario. “I’ve been
thinking in that direction myself. Josh and I worked both these original cases
with detectives Sparks
and Weaver.”

“Have you checked into vendettas?” Bicsak offered,
writing in his notepad.

Cooper wondered what the Internal Affairs man thought
worthy writing down. “We haven’t had much time for anything but check out crime
scenes since this all started. I can tell you one thing, we won’t quit until
this bastard is apprehended or killed.”

“And I’ll tell you right now,” Bicsak said, stepping
toward Cooper. “This whole thing reeks. If you weren’t involved with that book
of your ex-wife—you’re still involved somehow in all this shit. Either way, I’m
taking you down, Reynolds. Dirty cops don’t sit with me.”

Stepping even closer, Cooper grabbed Bicsak’s jacket.
“Get one thing straight, I’m not dirty. When this is over I’ll expect your
apology. Until then, stay the hell clear of me. I won’t get in your way, and
don’t even think about getting in mine.” Cooper clenched his teeth, struggling
to hold back from smashing the smug man’s nose in.

“Guys, there’s no need for this hostility. We’ll get
to the truth and we’ll find this killer. We need to work together.” Dallas backed into the
night stand and shoved it into the wall. “Hey guys, come see this. It looks
like a ring of blood.”

“Looks like a ring left from the bottom of a glass.”
Cooper stooped down to view the evidence closer. “Hand me that camera, would
you Bicsak?”

“Is this something new? Did the first crime scene have
this … or did you miss it?”

“We didn’t miss shit, Bicsak. “

“Megan didn’t mention this in her book, that much I
know. We should keep this little item between the three of us.”

“Boys and girls, I think we’ve found our first
discrepancy in this case. We’ll need to keep it in mind when we review the
first crime scene patterns.” Cooper wrote several items down in his notebook.

“Hey, don’t mention this in your notes, either of
you.” Dallas
tapped her pen against her knuckle. “We can’t be too careful. We know a cop is
involved … we just need to prove which one.”

Cooper glanced at Bicsak and didn’t miss the
accusatory expression. “I agree. Just the three of us. Let’s take a few more
pictures. Bicsak, would you get something to conceal this find? Finally we
agree on something.”

Bicsak left the room without comment. The moment he was
out of sight, Cooper pointed to a broken fingernail. He wasn’t surprised when Dallas snapped a quick
picture of it, then picked it up and dropped it into a small plastic bag. He
couldn’t have been more surprised when she dropped it into her jacket pocket.
They should have included Bicsak in on that bit of information, too, but Cooper
went with his instincts. After all, Bicsak and she were on the same team.

He took a Q-tip from a collection bag, rolled it into
the bloody ring, then dropped it into an evidence bag and zipped it shut. He
repeated the process with a second Q-tip, then handed both bags to Dallas for labeling.

She’d become quiet and that somehow bothered Cooper.
Did she think he had something to hide? “Maybe we should share the nail with
Bicsak?”

A quick negative head shake told him to back off.

“Why isn’t Arnott here with you?” Bicsak asked,
holding out a wet paper towel toward Dallas.

Cooper snatched it from his hand and mumbled,
“Thanks.” He moved the night stand back in place, until the blood ring was
undetectable to the naked eye. “He’s working on putting a team meeting together
to compare evidence from both recent crime scenes with the originals. We want
to include the third murder Megan wrote about in her book. We know there’s a
connection … we just haven’t found it yet. Hopefully five-o’clock in the
conference room and you both should be there.”

“You planning on letting us know when?”

“That’s for Arnott to confirm. Since he left about
fifteen minutes ago, I’m sure he hasn’t even arrived back at the office. I’m
just giving you a heads-up.”

“He just left you here all by yourself? You have any
idea how that can be misconstrued? You’re already in shit up to your kneecaps.
Any evidence could be argued planted or removed by you. What were you thinking?”

“Listen, Bicsak, I’ve never had to justify my
existence at any crime scene. I’ve been to plenty of them alone, and I’ll be
damned if I’ll stand here taking crap from you when I’ve got a job to do.”
Cooper shoved the camera into Dallas’s
hand. “There’s a disk with pictures from the crime scene, get them processed
for the meeting. I’d do it, but I don’t want to be accused of being selective
or tampering with them.”

“Cooper, we’re all a bit uptight right now but we have
to—“

“Work together, yeah, I know. Why don’t you try
telling that to your partner? I’m not the one having problems. As a
matter-of-fact,” Cooper pulled his jacket pockets inside out, then pulled
everything from his pants pockets into his hands while pulling the material
inside out. “You now know I’ve taken no incriminating evidence with me.” He
stuffed everything back into his pockets, then stomped to the door.

“That wasn’t necessary, Reynolds. I’m just doing my
job.”

“We’ll be at that meeting.” Dallas walked toward him. “Actually, would you
mind giving me a ride?” She waived her injured wrist.

 
“Sure, no
problem.” It pleased him she asked for his help and not Bicsak’s.

“I’ll give you a ride, Dallas,” Bicsak offered. “We should make some
joint notes about our observations and our take on these murders before we
attend this meeting anyway.”

“I’ve truly seen quite enough. If you want to take a
few more notes, go right ahead. I’ve had enough of this room.”

Cooper glanced back at Bicsak and didn’t miss the more
than interested look he gave Dallas.
So that’s how it was, the guy was in love with her. Now Cooper understood the
hostility coming from the man.

Dallas
silently walked out of the house and
Cooper followed close behind. He wondered why she hadn’t disclosed the broken
fingernail to Bicsak. He’d let her explain that one if she chose to.

Eucalyptus and spearmint drifted his way … he found
her intoxicating. They reached the front steps when Cooper stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“You have the camera, but I forgot the evidence bag.
I’d better go back and get it. You go to the car, and I’ll be right back. Damn,
I’ve never done that before.” He turned and hurried back toward the gruesome
scene.

“I’m coming with. I don’t trust you and Bicsak in the
same room without me.”

He chuckled and continued on ahead of her. Cooper
stepped into the bedroom and stopped short. Dallas bumped into him. “What the hell?” He
said, looking around the room. Bicsak was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did he go?” Dallas whispered behind him. “I don’t see
your evidence bag anywhere. I saw it when you asked for the camera.”

“Bicsak must have seen it, too.” Uneasiness gripped
Cooper.

“He must have grabbed it so nothing happened to the
evidence, then gone out the back door.”

“That better be the case … because if it’s not and
someone else took that evidence, I’m screwed.”

“There wasn’t enough time for Bicsak to walk out of
that room and someone else enter and leave before we got here. They would have
seen each other.”

“Where does that leave us?”

“I’m sure Bicsak has it. I’ll call him on my cell once
we get to the car.”

“I hope to hell you’re right. Let’s get out of here.”
As Cooper followed Dallas
a heavy feeling of doom settled over him. What he was afraid to ask … could the
killer have gotten his hands on that evidence bag? But how? There wasn’t enough
time. Nothing seemed to be going right lately.

CHAPTER TEN

The shrill ringing of the phone finally seeped into
Megan’s deep sleeping mind. She pulled off the light inhibiting blinds from her
eyes and squinted to find her cell.

“Yeah?”

“How can you sleep? Doesn’t your conscience bother
you?”

“Who is this?”

“Don’t you wonder how your lover knows all the details
of these murders?”

“What are you inferring?”

“I’m not inferring anything. Maybe you should give it
some thought.”

Megan sat, curiosity and anger building. “Who is this?
Did Kari Winslow put you up to this?”

“Wronnnng! Guess again.”

“Are you … the killer?” She asked, looking around the
sunlit bedroom.

“Now, why would a killer be calling you? Oh, I know,
to thank you for the attention you’ve given to … what shall we call them …
certain events that have long since been forgotten.”

“I just wrote a book. Since when is that a crime?”

“Oh, you’re getting worked up. I’ve never claimed
writing a book was a crime. Hell, I don’t think anything really is a crime.
Shit happens. Killings happen. Accidents happen. Fear happens. What do you
think?”

“What do you want?”

 
“I want
satisfaction. Yes, that’s it. I want satisfaction. Isn’t that what you wanted
when you decided to cheat on your husband? Satisfaction.”

“How … who are you? What business is this of yours?”
Megan slid off the bed and worked her way to the window. She carefully spread
the mini blinds and glanced around the back yard.

 
“Oh, it’s my
business that you’ve screwed with. You didn’t have all the facts, did you know
that? You’ve made me out to be some crazed idiot. I’m actually a genius. Would
you believe that? A damn genius.”

“Well, genius, what do you want with me?” She
swallowed hard, hoping she sounded unafraid.

“I think we should meet.”

“What?” Megan shouted.

“Did I surprise you, Megan love?”

“I won’t meet you. I mean … what on earth for?”

“We need to discuss the problems with your book. You
need to inform the public of the truth, not the distorted facts as seen through
the eyes of those idiot detectives.”

“I … no … I can’t meet with you. I … the book is done.
There’s no reason to change anything. It’s fiction for Christ’s sake.”

“Wronnnng! Surely you are in the process of a second
book. Come on, you aren’t going to write only one book. I know for a fact you
have a two-book contract. The second is a sequel to
Malicious Intent
. Let’s see, it’s going to be called
Physical Evidence
, right?”

“How … would you know that?”

“Oh, come one, love. Meet with me. I’ll help you
become the most prolific writer on serial killers ever. The name Megan Reynolds
will be known internationally.”

“I don’t know. How can I trust you?”

“You can’t.”

Megan trembled. She wanted to hang up the phone, but
she feared that more than listening to the madman. “I’m not sure I believe
you.”

“Very good, Megan. A bit gutsy, but I’m impressed.
You’ve got to be scared shitless by now. I admire your tenacity.”

“I don’t want your admiration. I want you to hang up
and never call me again.”

“Wronnnng! Not an option, love. You will meet me.”

“No I won’t. Don’t you see, I can’t?”

“Oh, but you can and you will. I’m giving you an
ultimatum. You’d better listen up and take me seriously. You’ll meet me and
write what I tell you to write or you’ll become one of the statistics.”

“What?” She could barely breathe.

“Got your attention that time, didn’t I? You will come
to me, Megan. Tomorrow night at … let’s make it midnight at the grave site of
poor little Lisa Helms. You know where. Check your book and you’ll have no
problem finding it. I warn you, come alone.”

“I won’t be there.” Megan said, barely above a
whisper.

“Oh, you’ll be there or I’ll come to you. I’m going to
make you famous one way or the other.”

“Meaning?”

“Victim or author. Choice is yours.”

She shuddered inwardly at the thought. A click and
dial tone told her the conversation was over. What would she do? God, how had
it come to this? She couldn’t control the sporadic trembling within her.

The phone rang in her hand. She jumped, dropping it to
the floor. She hesitated, wanting to pick it up, yet afraid it was
him
again. She reached down, slid to
unlock, and held it to her ear.

“Hello.” Her voice constricted and the word squeaked
out.

“Megan? That you? It’s James Airhart. I have those
papers drawn up for you to sign. You there?”

“Oh, James, I’m sorry, I was … writing and my mind
wasn’t on answering the phone.”

“Boy, you do get involved, don’t you? Like I said—“

“I heard you. I don’t have time for them today. Uh …
why don’t you run them by Cooper and get his signature first. I’ll sign them
later.”

“It’d be easier for me if you both just came to my
office and signed them.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I just can’t today.”

“You okay? You sound strange?”

“I’m fine, only annoyed with your badgering. Just get
Cooper’s signature and I’ll stop by your office when I can.”

“Maybe we could do dinner? I could bring the papers
along.”

She drew in a breath, then focused on getting rid of
James. “Sounds nice, we haven’t done dinner in a long time. Thanks so much,
James, you’re a dear.”

“I can’t do dinner tonight, how about tomorrow night,
say eight at our usual place?”

“Can’t do. I … have a commitment. Why don’t you check
with me later?”

“Sounds great. I look forward to it. Bye, Megan.”

“Bye.” James Airhart had been trying to get into her
pants for almost a year now. That came in handy when she needed an attorney
willing to get her what she wanted. Going to the best restaurants and social
events boosted her confidence.

Her conversation with James helped her forget the
previous caller. What choice did she have? And, believe it or not, she did need
information for the second book. It was at a complete stand still.

But, could she bargain with the devil? A better
question, should she bargain with the devil … was he really the killer?”

* * *

Dallas
settled back into the leather seat of
Cooper’s navy Jeep. “Nice rig. You just buy this to replace the Mustang?”

“No, I had the Mustang for the fun of it, but I use
this one for fishing, hunting, camping, gold panning and the like. Hard to
strap the canoe on the Mustang. Guess I don’t have to worry about that
anymore.”

“I’m sorry. It was a real shame. Coop … I mean,
Cooper—“

“I need to get over that. Call me whatever you like.”

“You may be sorry you said that! Thought you should
know someone was ransacking my room this morning. I surprised him and … well he
got away.”

“Are you serious?”

“No, I made it up. Of course I’m serious.”

“You see him?”

“Yes, I got a very good look at him. We actually had a
conversation. He said he was looking for shit to fence. I’d have believed him,
but his expensive Birkenstocks said otherwise. I attempted to arrest his ass
for breaking and entering. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as I had planned
and he got away. I should have been able to handle it. Damn brace got in the
way. “

“Any idea what he was looking for?”

“That’s just it, I don’t have a clue. I mean, really
what would I have worth stealing? Maybe he was telling the truth or maybe … if
this had anything to do with the case … he just might have been after my notes.
If not, then I don’t have a clue.”

“Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”

“Damn straight. I never forget a face. I’m going to
visit a sketch artist when I get a minute.” She glanced at Cooper. He had one
of the nicest smiles she’d ever seen. “What you smiling about?”

“Bet your trying to arrest him was the shock of his
life. He knows you saw him. That might not be a good thing.”

“Maybe he wasn’t looking for anything.” Dallas said.

“I don’t follow you.”

“Maybe he was leaving something.”

“The kind of
something that has the same results as my car?

She nodded. “I
think we should send—“

“Shit, is that your B&B in flames?”

“Damn it! There goes about five-hundred dollars’ worth
of clothes, not to mention my leather luggage.” Dallas slammed her hands together, then
winced.

 
“Well, I’d say
I’m no longer the target. Someone is definitely trying to kill you, Dallas. You
care to share?”

She shrugged her shoulders, leaned back, then closed
her eyes. “I have no idea. The killer must have seen me at the first crime
scene and I guess the second one also. But that doesn’t make me anymore of a
target than the rest of the team. No one seems to be trying to kill any of
you.”

“You must have stumbled onto some evidence you aren’t
aware of yet. The killer is afraid you know too much. Did your notes burn up in
the fire?”

“Actually I was hoping my notebook fell out of my
pocket at your apartment last night. I couldn’t find it anywhere this morning
and I had to use a new one for today.”

“Well, we can’t sit here and watch the firemen all
day. Let’s run over to my place and see if it’s there.”

“I have a little nail item still in my pocket and I’d
feel better if it was being analyzed by the lab. If you have the blood samples
from the carpet ring, we could drop them all at the crime lab.”

“I do, but my plan is to send them to a friend at the
FBI crime lab. No offense, but someone is leaking current information to the
press. If we hear anything about a blood ring, Bicsak is the leak there.”

 
“I think you
can forget that one. He wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“What is it
between the two of you?”

“Between us?
Nothing more than professional partners and that’s the way I plan to keep it.
He thinks he’s irresistible to women, I’m proving him wrong. I don’t mix work
and pleasure anyway. My private life is just that, private. Art can’t seem to
understand that concept. The more I say no, the harder he tries to change my
mind.”

“Maybe it’s because he’s in love with you.”

Dallas
rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. We work
together. Period.”

“You ever notice the way he looks at you? Now, don’t
get pissed. I’m serious. A guy sees these things. I’m telling you, the way
Bicsak looks at you isn’t in the line of duty.”

“We need to change the subject because I’m not
dignifying your comment with an answer.” She glanced at Cooper, then added,
“What?”

“You know I’m right, don’t you?”

“Maybe. But that doesn’t change my mind or how I feel.
He’s not my type either.”

Cooper laughed. “Oh, and exactly what is your type? No
… no … let me guess. I’ve known you all of two days. Let’s see how good I am.”

She squirmed slightly as he gave her a look of
thoughtful scrutiny.

“He would be a guy that likes the opera, social
parties, and champagne overlooking the lights of the big city.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong. I like a guy that smiles and
has a sense of humor. I like a guy who enjoys slow dancing and someone who is
comfortable whispering sensitive things in my ear. I like a guy who prefers
wine and cheese and long talks snuggled together in front of a fire. And, when
I’m in an extremely happy mood or I want to celebrate, I love a guy who’s
willing to go dancing at a Latin club.”

“You really think you’ll find Mr. Right?”

Dallas
laughed. “Not in this lifetime, but a girl
can dream, can’t she?” Cooper’s laugh caused her to look at him. “And since I
bore my soul to you, what is your idea of the perfect female?” She giggled as
he screwed up his face in a gesture indicating hopelessness. “Come on,” she
coaxed.

“Let’s see … the yin to my yang, eh? She’d have to
love my Tina and Tucker and they would have to like her from the get-go. Then,
she’d have to be funny and not moody. She’d love family picnics, hiking, and
suspense as well as funny romantic movies. After my kids have gone to bed,
she’d like quiet nights at home either watching a movie, talking in front of
the fireplace, or just reading. There, you have a blueprint for the woman I’m
looking for … well, not exactly looking. These days she’d have to fall in my
lap before I’d notice her.”

“Know what you mean. Our jobs don’t exactly free-up
much socializing time, do they? Okay, I’ve got one for you. How long has it
been since your last real date?”