The Heart Of A Killer Part 11

Shead fill him in on the interviews later.

She climbed into her car and headed into town, zooming into a drive-through for some much-needed caffeine. Roman was waiting for her in the lobby of the bank building.

aWhereas Dante?a he asked.

She shrugged. aNot joining us on this one. Iall catch him up to speed later on.a aOkay. So thereas a law firm that takes up the entire third floor. Two a.s.sociates were working last night atil about two in the morning.a She walked alongside Roman toward the elevator. aThird floor would give them a good view. Who else?a aSome corporate jock, head of a marketing firm on the fifth floor. He was here until past midnight. His offices only front the north side of the building, though.a She nodded. aOkay. Weall talk to the corporate jock just in case, but I doubt heall be of any use. Iam primarily interested in the attorneys. Are they clocked in now?a aYeah. I checked at the front desk when I got here.a She lifted her phone. It was almost eleven-thirty. d.a.m.n, she really had gotten some sleep.

Dante had also called her. Twice. She hadnat answered, instead sent him a text that she was running down some leads and shead get back with him later.

Roth, Llewelyn and Macy was a typical law firm. All expensive wood paneling and quirky architecture as the elevator doors opened. Fresh flowers flanked the reception desk, along with the attractive young blonde sitting behind it.

aMay I help you?a she asked.

Anna flashed her badge. aI need to see Margaret Atkinson and Larry Stevens.a She lifted her nose a couple inches in the air. aDo you have an appointment?a aNo,a she said.

aThen may I ask what this is regarding?a aNo, you may not. But you can pick up your phone and tell them this is police business and they can hustle their a.s.ses out here, or we can do this down at the station.a The girlas eyes widened. aOne moment, please.a It didnat take long to get a response. But instead of the two a.s.sociates she got an older guy with slightly graying hair and a very expensive suit.

aIam Roger Macy, one of the senior partners of this firm. Can I help you?a aDetective Anna Pallino of the St. Louis Police Department. Weare investigating a murder that occurred in the alley last night. We understand two of your a.s.sociates were working late last night and would like to speak to them to ascertain if they saw anything.a aAh, yes. We heard about the murder in the alley behind this building. Two of them so far, right?a aThatas correct.a aWas it someone who worked in this building?a aNo, sir. The victims are unrelated to the tenants here.a aAll right. Let me gather my a.s.sociates in the conference room. Do you mind if Iam present for the questioning?a aNot at all.a Lawyers. Anna looked to Roman, who shrugged.

They were led to the conference room and instructed to wait. The room was stark white, no pictures on the walls. It had a long, smooth cherry table and a ton of comfortable chairs, a credenza on either side and a stellar view of the alley through the wide windows.

aGood view of the Dumpster,a Anna said.

aNot sure what you could see in the dark.a Roman pressed his nose to the gla.s.s.

Anna looked over his shoulder. aDoubtful someone would be looking out that way. But maybe they heard something and looked down. Plus, thereas a light over the Dumpster area. Weall see.a They turned when the door opened. Macy came in with a man and a woman, both in their late twenties, good-looking. Both looked nervous, though the guy pressed his hand to the small of the womanas back as if to comfort her.

Hmm.

She was pretty, with long, dark blond hair pulled up in a sleek ponytail. She wore a pencil skirt and a nondescript white silk blouse. He was in a gray suit, impeccably tailored.

Macy introduced them both.

aHave a seat. This isnat an interrogation,a Anna said. aWe know you were both working late last night, and a murder occurred outside in the alley behind this building.a Margaret Atkinson nodded. aWe heard the sirens while we were working, then saw it on the news this morning.a aYes. We were wondering which offices you were working in.a aHere in the conference room,a Larry said. aWeare working on the same case. Trialas coming up, so weare reviewing depositions and witness lists and preparing pretrial motions.a aDid you at any time have cause to look out the window here?a Margaret looked at Larry, then shook her head. aNo, we pretty much stayed at the table the entire time.a aWe have a deadline,a Larry added after watching Margaret while she spoke. aWe didnat leave the conference room.a aIt was a late night and we had a lot of paperwork to do,a Margaret said.

aYou didnat hear anything unusual outside?a Anna asked.

aNo. We were wrapped up inathe case,a Margaret said, her nervous gaze darting to Larry. aWe didnat hear a thing. Until the sirens, of course.a Larry offered a serious look. aWeare very focused. A bomb could go off and we wouldnat have heard it. We didnat leave our chairs, until as Margaret said, we heard the police arrive.a aWe went downstairs then to see what was going on,a Margaret said, abut they wouldnat let us pa.s.s because they already had the police tape up.a aAt that point we figured we should get out of everyoneas way, plus we had to be here early this morning, so we wrapped things up and headed out,a Larry added.

aWhat time was that?a Anna asked.

aAround two,a Larry said.

Anna remained silent, wondering if either would add anything.

Larry looked from Margaret to their boss. aWe have the paperwork prepared if youad like to check it all over.a Macy waved his hand. aUnnecessary.a aHow long were you in this room?a Anna asked. aHours.a aMost of the night,a Margaret said, her gaze once again flitting to Larry before coming back to Anna and Roman. aFrom the time the office closed until we left. We ordered takeout to be delivered. I thinkaLarry, you have the receipts for that?a aI do.a aMotions had to be filed this morning,a Margaret said. aSo we stayed and worked through the night until we were finished.a aUh-huh.a aDetectives,a Mr. Macy said, aIam sure you can tell my a.s.sociates didnat see or hear anything.a They were getting nowhere. Anna pulled her card. aPlease do your best to try to remember everything from last night. Even the smallest detail could be of use. An unusual sound, anything that seemed out of the ordinary or may have caught your attention, even if it was for only a few seconds. If you got up to glance out the window and you saw anything that springs to mind, give me a call.a aThey certainly will, Detective,a Macy said, sliding her card across the table and slipping it into his coat pocket.

She thanked them and they left the office.

As soon as they hit the elevator and the door closed, Anna turned to Roman.

aWorking on briefs, my a.s.s. Maybe she was in his briefs.a aAgreed,a Roman said. aThe only thing they saw in that conference room was each other. The killer could have hung a body outside the window and they wouldnat have noticed.a Anna wrinkled her nose. Crude, but accurate as far as the witnesses. aYeah, pretty useless. The two of them were skirting glances back and forth like crazy. I think they were more afraid of the boss finding out theyad been boinking all night instead of working.a The corporate dude on the other floor was a bust, too. His office fronted the street instead of the alley. Head only worked until about eleven, had parked on the street side and he hadnat seen or heard a thing.

Useless. They were due for a break, and soon.

Thirteen.

Dante was parked in front when Anna drove past the precinct, so she parked on the street and walked up toward him.

He leaned against his car, arms crossed, his expression unfathomable behind his mirrored shades. Did he have to look so impossibly s.e.xy in his worn jeans and tight T-shirt?

Women pa.s.sing by on the street paused, looked over their shoulders and ogled. And why wouldnat they? He was gorgeous. Well worth a second look. Even a third.

She wanted to kick them for ogling, which was ludicrous. He wasnat hers. She had no claim on him. She didnat know what p.i.s.sed her off morea"the women staring or her irritation over it.

He seemed to be oblivious to the stares he got, his attention fully on her.

aWhat are you doing here?a she asked, deciding to ignore his rock-G.o.d status from the sidewalk groupies mentally dragging their tongues over him.

aFigured youad show up here eventually.a He pushed off the car and came toward her.

aIam surprised you didnat use your supercomputer to figure out my whereabouts.a aI could have, but no point. You were with Roman.a aHow did you know that?a aI called him when I woke up and saw you werenat there. He told me you were meeting him.a aSmart-a.s.s,a she said, starting up the steps. aYou talk to my captain yet?a aAs a matter of fact, we had donuts and coffee together this morning.a She stopped, pivoted on the steps to face him. aYou did not.a The corners of his mouth lifted. aDid, too. He likes me. Actually, he really likes me since I brought him donuts.a Captain Pohanski was a d.i.c.k. He didnat like anyone. He didnat appreciate his precinct messed with. And he especially didnat like the FBI, who he often referred to as a bunch of inept, interfering a.s.s wipes.

aI can guarantee Pohanski doesnat like you.a aIf you say so.a He waited for her to turn and go inside.

aYouare bulls.h.i.tting me.a He dragged his sungla.s.ses down the bridge of his nose and gave her a look with those baby blues of his that melted her to the steps.

aYou going in or not?a he asked.

She turned and went inside, grateful the air-conditioning was in prime working order today. Between the heat, the way he looked and those steamy looks he was giving her, she was hot. Plenty hot.

aPallino.a She cringed at the sound of Captain Pohanskias bellow. aYes, sir.a aGet in here.a She lifted her gaze to Danteas, who took a seat at the chair next to her desk and stretched out his legs. aIall just wait here.a aYou do that.a She took a slow walk toward the captainas office.

Pohanski was a short round Pillsbury Doughboy of a man, with a ruddy complexion and jowls. His shifty, narrow eyes made him look more like a criminal than a cop. He was also a d.a.m.n fine police officer who knew his s.h.i.t. He had thirty years of perfect service under his belt and ran his precinct loosely, preferring to let his cops do their jobs rather than keeping his thumb on top of them. But you never, ever wanted to be called into his office, because if you got caught on his radar, you got an a.s.s chewing you never forgot.

What the h.e.l.l had Dante gone and done?

aShut the door.a Oh, h.e.l.l.

She did, and moved in front of his desk, which looked as if it had been burglarized. There were crumpled notes, Post-its everywherea"Pohanski didnat believe in technologya"pencils, two empty coffee cups, a mountain of files, one dusty desktop computer that wasnat turned on and about fifteen note pads.

aThis murder investigation youare working? The two dead in the alley?a aYes, sir.a aA real cl.u.s.terf.u.c.k.a aYes, sir.a aCould be a serial.a aItas looking that way.a aAny particular reason you havenat filled me in about it lately?a aI was on my way to do that when you called me in, sir.a aUh-huh.a He tapped the pencil on the quarter of an inch of desktop that was visible. aSo this Dante Renaldi, the FBI agent thatas insinuated himself into the case.a aYes, sir. About thataa aSharp sonofab.i.t.c.h. Iam a little p.i.s.sed off about the government bureaucracy and the fact that heas pushed himself onto this case, but he explained about George Clemons and Jeff Barrone and his relationship to them. In his shoes, Iad do the same thing. I hate the FBI and all their bulls.h.i.t, but I like him.a Annaas fumbling excuses for Dante got caught at the back of her throat. aSir?a aKeep him close to you.a Pohanski looked down and started scribbling notes onto one of his pads.

That was it?

aUh, Iall do that. Thanks.a She turned to make a hasty exit.

aPallino?a She pivoted to face him. aSir?a aWhatas with the roses and note to you?a aKilleras trying to p.i.s.s me off.a aIs it working?a aIt is.a aKeep me informed. The mediaas going to get their teeth into this case. Iam going to have the higher-ups crawling so far up my a.s.s Iall have my teeth cleaned. Get it solved and soon.a aYes, sir.a Before he found something else to grill her about, she turned and got the h.e.l.l out of there, shutting the door behind her. She headed back to her desk where Dante was still sitting, a smug smile on his face. She slid into her chair and gave him an evil glare.

aWhat did you do to my captain? Drug him with the donuts?a aI have a way with people.a She rolled her eyes at him. aNo one has a way with Pohanski.a Dante arched a brow. aA smooth talker like you canat wrap him around your pretty little finger? Come on.a aScrew you.a She booted up her desktop and started entering information on the case.

aSo what did he say?a Like shead tell him. aHe just wanted an update on the case.a aUh-huh. He likes me, doesnat he?a aHe thinks youare going to be a hindrance to this case and I should keep you as far away from it as possible.a Dante laughed. aLiar.a She shifted her gaze to him. aOkay, fine. He did like you. He wants me to stick to you like glue. What the h.e.l.l did you tell him?a aBulls.h.i.t, mostly. But all the right kinds of bulls.h.i.t. In my line of work Iave had to schmooze every type. I know how to work people to get what I want.a She leaned back in her chair. aIs that what youave been doing to me? Working me?a aYou know better than that. You know me better than that, and donat give me that c.r.a.p about you not knowing me. You of all people know me better than anyone.a She wanted to say she didnat know him at all. There were parts of his past she didnat know, but she was learning more every day. And she wanted to find out morea"about where head been, what head been doing, what head been through all these years, and how all that had shaped him into who he was now.

Mostly she wanted not to care about him at all.

The problem was, she did care, and that p.i.s.sed her off more than anything. Shead spent years building this great wall of I-donat-give-a-s.h.i.t-about-anybody. She kept watch over her guys because she owed them, but she didnat love anyone. When you loved someone, they could hurt you. They could leave you.

Shead been really successful at keeping her heart under wraps all these years. Her job had helped with that, keeping her busy enough that she didnat notice the loneliness. The panic attacks and memories of that night kept her from getting close to anyone. She guarded herself well.

Until Dante came back. Until this case reminded her she hadnat been alone all these years. That she did have people she loved.

People she loved that she could lose.

And now it was like twelve years agoa"her and all the guys again.

Only now they were one guy short. Jeff was dead. Someone hunted them all. Someone wanted them all dead.

aHey, Anna?a She lifted her head to see Roman coming into the squad room. aYeah?a aYou need to come outside and see this.a Puzzled, she and Dante headed out the front door, the same way theyad come in.

Roman inclined his head down the street where her car was parked.

Her heart stumbled when she saw the single rose and the card attached to the windshield wiper of her car.

aG.o.ddammit.a Dante pushed past her toward her car with his long, lean strides. She and Roman hustled to keep up with him.

aI saw it when I was driving up,a Roman said. aI pulled in behind your car and already called for a forensics team.a She nodded, but her focus was on Dante. He was p.i.s.sed. Shead never seen him so angrya"not since that night twelve years ago.

He pivoted in a three hundred sixty degree circle, hand on the b.u.t.t of his gun as if he could spot the killer on this busy street.

aHeas not here, Dante.a He shot her a glare. aYou sure about that? Itas downtown, cars buzzing by, sidewalks crowded with people. He could be right G.o.dd.a.m.n here right now watching you. You need to go inside.a Her dander up, she went toe-to-toe with him. aDonat tell me how to do my job.a He got closer to her. aAnd donat be so hardheaded about this that you end up dead.a Equally as furious with Dante and the killer, she pivoted, leaned over her car and examined the bloodred rose and white card tied to it with a red ribbon.

ab.a.l.l.sy f.u.c.ker, isnat he?a Roman said.

aHeas p.i.s.sing me the h.e.l.l off.a Anna wanted to tear him apart. And she wanted to read that G.o.dd.a.m.n card. aWhereas CSU?a aItas going to take them a few minutes, honey. Let me get my kit.a Roman went to his trunk and popped it open, grabbed a few pairs of gloves and tweezers from his kit.

aWe need photographs first,a Anna said, gloving up and grabbing Romanas camera. She took a step back and shot some photos from a distance, then took a photo of her car in relation to the police station. Once she got the pictures, she nodded to Roman who had the tweezers in his hand.

aEnvelope isnat sealed.a He deftly pulled the card out of the envelope enough for them to read it.

Number two, Anna. Did I kill him good enough for you?

She jumped back as if shead been burned. Angry tears p.r.i.c.ked her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to let him get to her. aNot for me, you son of a b.i.t.c.h. Never for me.a aHeas playing you,a Dante said. aHeas trying to upset you.a aYou know what? Itas working. I am upset. Heas playing this game and killing people I care about. People you care about. And heas doing it for me? I donat f.u.c.king think so. Heas doing it for himself. For whatever his agenda is. And heas trying to lay it on me. Thatas bulls.h.i.t.a aPohanski is coming out,a Roman said.

Anna whirled, then groaned. aGreat. Just f.u.c.king great.a Her captain came over just as the CSU team arrived. aWhat the h.e.l.l is this?a he asked as he leaned over her car. aMore love notes?a aIt would seem so.a af.u.c.king h.e.l.l.a Pohanski smoothed his hand over his bald head. aYou light a fire under CSU and get this wrapped up in a hurry.a aIall do that, sir.a Pohanski stormed off. She instructed the CSU team to pull the flower and card, dust her car for prints and get the h.e.l.l out of there. She put a couple uniforms on crowd control, and she, Dante and Roman headed back inside.

aI canat even believe he put that on my car outside the police station.a Dante slid into the chair next to Annaas desk. aWhen you think about it, itas a great idea.a Annaas brows shot up. aYeah? Explain it to me.a aCops going in and out. Busy street with heavy traffic downtown, people not paying attention. Easy to get lost in a crowd and no one expects anyone to do anything out of the ordinary right outside a precinct station.a aHe has a point,a Roman said. aHiding in plain sight. Weave seen that plenty of times on cases.a Anna laid her head in her hands. This case had just gone from bad to worse.

Roman stood. aIam going to head over to the lab and light a fire under Forensicsa a.s.s. We need tox results on Jeff, the results of those drugs both Jeff and George were found with. And now we have this.a Anna nodded. aThanks, Roman.a Her phone buzzed. She pulled it and looked at the display.

aOh, no.a aWhat?a Dante asked.

aItas Gabe. We never got around to telling Gabe.a She watched the phone buzz until the call went to voice mail. If she had to tell one more person about Jeff she wasnat going to make it.

aIall take care of it.a She met his gaze. aI can do it.a aYou go check out the autopsy. See if they find anything.a She nodded. Neither task was going to be a pleasant one. She stood and so did Dante. aIall do that, thanks.a He moved to leave.

aDante?a aYeah.a aAbout outside?a He looked around the squad room, then smiled and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. aJust tension, Anna. Donat worry about it.a She relaxed. aThanks.a She knew she couldnat face the autopsy. There was no way she could stand over Jeffas body and watch them take him apart piece by piece as if Jeff hadnat been a live person a day ago. She might be a coward, but shead rather hear about what they found rather than see it for herself.

She dragged her heels heading over to the M.E.as office, then finally went inside. They told her the autopsy was in progress, so she stalled for time, called Roman who was cooling his heels at the lab with nothing to report. She headed out to her car to finish up some paperwork. By the time she came back inside, it was over.

aYou missed it,a Richard Norton said as he dried off his hands.

Perfect timing. Jeffas body had already been returned to the refrigerated compartment, so she wouldnat have to look at him, wouldnat have to face hima"or her own failure at catching whoever was doing this.

aI got tied up. What did you find?a She followed Richard to his office. aWhoever did this had a much better time wailing on this guy than he did the one before. He was beaten more severely, especially around his face. Relatives wouldnat have been able to recognize him if theyad been looking at him.a She knew. She hadnat known it was him at first. But the image of Jeffas b.l.o.o.d.y, beaten face would remain with her forever.

More nightmares to look forward to.

aCause of death was skull fracture and corresponding brain bleed. If youad been to the autopsy, I could have showed you.a She was glad shead missed it.

aPlus his airway was swollen from being choked, his nose broken, ten ribs fractured, his lungs bruisedaa Anna had to buck up and listen to Richard go over the autopsy results as if Jeff were just another victim, instead of someone shead known almost half her life. If she let it get too personal, Pohanski would pull her from the case. She could only hope that Jeff had been unconscious for most of it, that head fallen blissfully under and had died without knowing a lot of the pain.

Thatas how she was going to think of it, anyway.

aDid you pull anything off the body? Prints, fibers, anything of note?a aPrints, no. Pulled a few fibers from his skin and clothing. Those could have likely come from his house, or they could have come from the killer. Sent those off to the lab to be tested. He had marks all over him, obviously, from being beaten, but your suspect must be using thick gloves when he beats them and only the tip of a shoe for the kicking. We have no shoe imprints on the body, no fingerprints. Heas as clean as the first guy. Once we washed all the blood off, we found bruises, sc.r.a.pes and cuts. He had a deep gash on his head. Your killer took the victimas head and pounded it on the floor of the alley. Brain swelled up like a watermelon and filled with blood. Your vic didnat have a chance. Like I said earlier, this kill was much more vicious than the last one.a Anna grimaced.

aAnd then of course we have the same crude heart carving over his chest as the previous victim.a aI need tox-screen results as soon as you can get them to me.a Richard nodded. aYeah, he was injected. Thereas an injection spot on his right bicep. I saw in the file his bedroom had been wrecked and it looked like head been taken from there to the dump site. I can tell you for certain he died in the alley, so he was alive when he was taken from his house. By the time he was found in the alley head only been dead a few hours. Iall tell the lab to rush the tox results for you.a aOkay. Thanks, Richard.a aYou have any leads on the killer yet?a She shook her head. aNothing yet. This suspect is so clean heas squeaking right through.a He patted her shoulder. aYouare tough and tenacious, Anna. No killer is that thorough. Youall catch him.a aI appreciate the confidence. And yes, I will.a She had to. She would. No one else was going to die.

Dante met Gabe at his condo and filled him in on everything that had happened last night. And today.

Gabe leaned over, his forearms on the knees of his jeans.

ad.a.m.n.a He shook his head. aI canat believe Jeffas dead.a He lifted his head and shot an angry glare at Dante. aThe b.a.s.t.a.r.d took him from his house?a aYeah. Blood in the bathroom and the bedroom was a mess. Looked like a mean fight.a aThat should yield some evidence. Anna will be happy.a Dante shrugged. aMaybe. First time he was Mr. Clean. This time, not so much.a aGood. You donat make a mess like that without leaving something of yourself behind.a aSpoken by someone who knows something of crime scenes?a Gabe lifted his lips and stared down at Danteas badge. aNot saying a thing to the FBI.a aSorry about that.a aYeah. What the h.e.l.l, man? Couldnat you have said something?a aNot really. Maybe. f.u.c.k, I guess I should have. Iam so used to being undercover I just donat tell people. And Iam never around people I know, soaa This lying thing sucked. He was usually really good at it. This time, he was weaving so many lies even he didnat know what he was saying. He should have just told the truth from the beginning.

Anna was right.

But then he wouldnat have been able to become FBI guy, and that was going to help the case, so head live with it.

Gabe regarded Dante with something that looked a lot like mistrust. Dante wondered if Gabe was thinking he was the one being investigated. He hoped not. There was already time and distance between them, and he needed to keep Gabe close, for Annaas sake.

aSo youare undercover right now?a Dante smiled. aNo. I got myself a.s.signed to the local P.D. so I could help investigate Georgeas and Jeffas murder.a aBut youare on the governmentas payroll.a That part, at least, wasnat a lie. aYeah.a aHuh. Canat see you as a fed.a aNo? What did you see me as?a aI dunno. Nothing on the legal side, thatas for sure.a Dante laughed. aThanks, Gabe.a aHey, just call aem like I see aem. Thereas a reason you and me hightailed it out of here as fast as we could after the s.h.i.t went down all those years ago. And it wasnat because we were saints.a aYouare right about that.a aSo for you to turn out to be FBI after all weave been througha"man, you got lucky.a aI know, right? I cleaned up my act, decided to stay out of trouble for a change. I developed goals and ambitions.a aI had goals and ambitions, too. Only mine were a little different than yours.a aLike what?a Gabe gave him a knowing look. aDo I look stupid?a aI think you can trust me, Gabe. Me of all people.a Gabe laughed. aYou say that like weare supposed to know each other. We donat know s.h.i.t about each other anymore. I donat trust you any more than you trust me.a Dante leaned back, realizing Gabe was right. They knew nothing about each other anymore. His perceptions of the guys, and of Anna, were stuck in timea"twelve years ago. They were all different people now.

He couldnat help but be hurt that his onetime best friend and closest brother didnat trust him at all. And that was on him. Head have to live with that.