Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3 / Military Romance) (3 page)

Finally on the path to the door, Elle quickly glanced around the open space. She had a couple Chinese wall partitions to separate where her bed was situated. A bathroom was to the far left and was the only
room
to have a door. A few pieces of clothing were scattered about on the couch and floor. The small kitchen area, consisting of a sink, stove, and small countertop with a microwave, had dishes that still needed to be washed. She winced and hoped like hell it wasn’t Jax or Connor.

Jax Christensen and Connor Ortega were owners of a kink club called Masters, which just happened to be right below Elle’s small apartment. They’d made some type of agreement with the landlord and they had somehow finagled a way to include this space as hers while she managed their club. Elle didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, no matter how charitable it sounded. She made sure she did the best damn job in management and paid her rent on time, regardless of their protests. Even she knew that she wasn’t paying close to what the landlord could probably get. They compensated her well, too well, but that didn’t mean that this gig couldn’t be taken away in the blink of an eye. It was better to save as much as she could, just in case of the worst scenario.

Pounding sounded once more and Elle reached for her ponytail, which sat high on her head to keep her long hair contained while she slept, tightening the band. Finally reaching her destination, she turned the knob and threw open the door. The last person she expected to see was Kevin Dreier.

“You didn’t check to see who it was.”

Kevin stood in front of Elle with his hands on his hips looking irritated. Well, he could just join the club. Ever since he’d helped her get the management position at Masters, his attitude had changed toward her and she didn’t like it one bit. When they’d first met, she’d been working the streets. It wasn’t something she was proud of, and to his credit he never made her feel as if she were lower than dirt. He had some sort of relationship with Bee, the man she’d worked for, and Kevin had seemed to take an interest in her. Not physical, by any means, but more of a casual friend. The one thing she’d liked and respected about Kevin was his brutal honesty. Unfortunately, his mannerisms had changed the minute she cleaned up her act and it made her damn uncomfortable. She didn’t like how his voice transformed from no-nonsense to tenderness when he dealt with her. And this overprotective shit was getting on her nerves.

“There are two security doors a person would have to get through, Kevin. And even then a card key is required.” Elle didn’t bother to hide her frown. She turned away and retreated back into her apartment, knowing that he would follow. Since sleep was now out of the question, she made her way to the small counter where a four-cup coffeemaker sat beside the microwave. She did her best to ignore the fact that his presence behind her made her apartment feel like a tin box. “It was either Jax, Connor, or the landlord. Speaking of which, how did you gain access to the club?”

“I swung by Jax’s place and picked up a key.”

Kevin leaned against the wall, making no pretense that he was watching her as she made coffee. Elle had no doubt that had she lived another life and had been the girl next-door type they might have hooked up. As it was, life was a bitch and so was she. This six foot three inch man deserved a hell of a lot better than a washed up hooker. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of who or what she was, but some things were just a basic fact. In addition, him treating her lately like a little sister was downright degrading and only cemented their stations. He certainly didn’t handle her like the submissives the kink club catered to. Not that she wanted him to. She wasn’t sure why that even crossed her mind.

“And you got the key to come see me why?” Elle asked crossly as she hit the brew button with a little too much force.

“I needed to talk to you.”

Kevin’s statement grabbed her attention and she paused long enough to look his way. Her heart stuttered just a bit and the empty pit that was her stomach lurched as the reason for his visit finally dawned. His grey eyes met hers, and from the rawness within she knew what he was about to say. To give herself more time before hearing the horrifying news, she concentrated on his appearance. His brown hair was almost fashioned in a crew cut, but a little longer on top and glistening with what must be melted snowflakes. It gave him a boyish look, which was ludicrous, because his aura was anything but. His shift in stance signaled his need to tell her his news. She tried to brace herself.

“Was it someone I knew?”

Elle held her breath as she waited for his answer. They’d had multiple discussions about her apparent need to help the women that were still working on the street. He didn’t understand and it wasn’t her job to make him. It was her life and she would do what she needed to do. From the time she was seventeen, the only way she knew how to survive was off of her body. It was rare that one got out of the profession and even rarer that they were offered the chance. At the age of twenty-five, Elle now knew better. She didn’t kid herself that she could help them all, but she damn well knew she could save some. Now there was some sick son of a bitch raping and murdering prostitutes. It could have well been her that had been raped or murdered.

“I don’t think so,” Kevin answered, his voice soft. The hint of tenderness was right underneath, as if she needed to be coddled. Elle ignored it, but she still felt relief run through her body while at the same time sorrow for the girl who lost her life. She forced herself to listen to the rest of what Kevin had to say. “She didn’t work for Bee. I did find it odd that Clarisse and Rachel were on the scene though. The victim could have been new to town or visiting one of the other girls.”

“If you didn’t recognize her, why are you assuming she’s a working girl?” Elle asked, leaning a hip against the countertop. She knew that came across a little spiteful and that wasn’t how she meant it. “We know the two rapes and the murder back in June were all call girls. What makes you think this one was?”

Kevin didn’t break their eye contact and his confidence was a little intimidating. She didn’t let that get to her though and she refused to be the one to look away first. If there was something that the women should know that would somehow keep them from being a target, they had a right to know. They were already terrified but having more information would only aid in their safety.

“There are details that only the police are privy to that won’t be shared with the public unless they deem necessary. I can assure you, this was a victim of the man we are looking for.”

Elle tilted her head and she gave him a quizzical look, her mind already running a thousand miles per minute. She worked closely with the shelter in town, as well as keeping in contact with most of the women. No one mentioned a new girl, but maybe Kevin had a point about a visiting friend. She didn’t doubt that the girl’s occupation was what he assumed, but she refused to feel guilt over calling him on it.

She glanced at the time on the microwave and knew that Cam would be on shift at Reformation this morning. Cam and his brother Eric ran the women’s shelter and they split their time evenly so that someone was always present. She’d purposefully stayed away from the center during her years on the street. It wasn’t until this last year that she’d seen how much Eric had changed and though she still didn’t feel comfortable around him, she respected his work ethic in helping the girls turn their lives around.

“I’ll check with Cam,” Elle said, spinning away from the scowl that crossed Kevin’s face upon her declaration. He’d just have to deal it. She was as invested in this case as he was. After all, she was the one who referred Becky Rattore’s parents to CSA. The eighteen-year-old girl had run away from home, thinking she could hack it on the streets. It didn’t take long for reality to set in. Elle opened one of the three cabinets above the counter and pulled down a mug, hoping to avoid an argument. “Maybe Cam heard something about her or knew of her.”

“I didn’t come here to enlist your help, Elle.” Kevin’s voice had deepened into censorship and Elle did her best to reign in her temper. To give herself something to do, she poured the steaming black liquid into a plain white mug that she’d purchased from the grocery store. If she’d had a second, she might have offered him one. Then again, maybe not. She slid the pot back onto the miniscule burner. “You’ll only put yourself in danger. I came because I wanted you to hear from me that there’s been another murder. It’s best that you stay away from the streets and the shelter for awhile. The police haven’t pinpointed how this guy is choosing his victims and until he’s apprehended, I think you should stay clear.”

“Just say it, Kevin.” Elle slammed her mug on the laminate counter and faced him, crossing her arms. “You think because I was a hooker that I could be a target.”

From the twitch of Kevin’s jawline, it was obvious he was suppressing his response and something inside her jumped for glee. She would love to see him lose a little of that control that just irritated the shit out of her. She knew that she baited him a little too much for his comfort, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Dealing with abrupt, concise, and blunt people she could handle. It was what she was used to. This veiled kindness and affection that he seemed to have adopted this last year confused her and she wanted nothing to do with it or him.

“You have a habit of putting words in my mouth,” Kevin replied, pushing off of the wall and standing to his full height. An advantage for her was that she wasn’t as small as the average woman he was used to and she squared her shoulders as well, using her five foot eight inch stature to challenge him. For some reason, he still made her feel feminine, but she pushed it aside to listen to the remainder of what he had to say. “We have no idea who this guy is, how he’s picking his victims, or when he will change course. Until we figure that out no one is safe.”

“I appreciate your concern.”

There. Simple and to the point. Elle watched as Kevin tried to formulate more words and she raised her chin another fraction of an inch. It wasn’t like she was hiding anything from him. He knew damn well that she would do what she wanted. He didn’t seem to understand that she could actually help him. He was intelligent enough to know that his snitches didn’t tell him everything. But someone like her, who they claimed as one of their own, was a different matter. This killer had to have made a mistake somewhere and been seen by someone. It was just a matter of finding out whom.

“Is it so hard to have someone care about you?”

Kevin’s words, as soft as they sounded, were like ice cold water being thrown in her face. It took a moment to gather her composure, and even then she wasn’t sure how to respond. Elle slowly dragged oxygen into her lungs after having realized that she wasn’t breathing. She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant and she didn’t want to. No matter how she answered, it wouldn’t come out right. The best course of action was to pretend it was never said. Feeling as if she were on autopilot, Elle grabbed her mug and somehow managed to walk around him without touching.

“I appreciate that you came to tell me,” Elle said, trying to keep her voice even. She walked to the door and opened it, although she didn’t take a sip of her coffee for fear that her hand would tremble. “If you find out anything more, you can just call. The club is closed tonight, so I’ll be doing inventory for the bar.”

Kevin slowly turned to face her, and for a moment she worried that he wouldn’t let it go. As he walked toward her in a predatory way, she found herself holding her breath once more. Since when had she turned into such a weak specimen of the female race? Elle tightened her grip on the cup and waited for his reaction when what she wanted to do was shout that she didn’t need an older brother watching out for her. She refused to think he meant it any other way.

“Be careful if you go to the shelter,” Kevin said, his voice registering an octave lower. He was also inches from her with his head tilted down, giving her a view of his full lips. She didn’t look up to meet his gaze for fear of what she would see. More apt, what she wouldn’t see. “I’ll be in touch.”

With those four words, Kevin was out the door, leaving only a slight hint of woodsy aftershave in his wake. She quickly shut the door to seal it outside versus in. Elle didn’t need any reminders of his visit. The news he’d left was enough and that prompted her to quickly cross the floor and walk behind the wooden wall partition. She set her mug down on the nightstand, although not before she fortified herself with a long swallow. The day proved to be a long one if she was going to spend it at the shelter. She’d catch a few hours of sleep later this evening before she did that inventory she mentioned.

Is it so hard to have someone care about you?
Kevin’s words rang in Elle’s ears as she got dressed, causing more frustration than she thought possible. If she’d answered him honestly then he’d learn that she didn’t know if it was hard. It was something that she never had. She didn’t pity herself by any means. It was just the way it was. But Kevin would pity her and that was something she couldn’t allow.

Elle turned her focus on the shelter and the women who sought help. Some were young runaways, some were prostitutes trying to turn their life around, and then there were the women who were either single moms or victims of domestic abuse. They each had the courage to reach out and try to change the course of their lives. It had taken her a long time to find that resolution within herself, and if she could give them even an ounce of hope, then she’d done what she set out to do. This killer wasn’t about to take that away from any of them.

Chapter Three