Chapter Fourteen

Tess liked waking up next to Grady just a little too much -but she decided not to dwell on it as she snuggled up to his warm body. She remembered one spring, back when she was still in school and her mother had had a decent job at a supermarket. That Friday, they’d picked Mitchell up from school and took off for the country for the weekend. A coworker had had a cabin in a delightful little resort village – nothing fancy, of course – but it was charming. They’d spent their time exploring the woods, fishing in the lake and roasting marshmallows in the fireplace. It was like they were a normal family – a normal happy family. Her heart had overflowed with love and joy and when things had taken a turn for the worse later, she had often closed her eyes and remembered that time to get her through the bad days.

The past few days with Grady had felt like that weekend – and would have felt even better if it hadn’t been for the murders looming over her head.

Grady fidgeted, yawned, and tightened his arm around her. She smiled in the dim light and stretched her arm across his chest. She loved him, she knew, but she wasn’t ready to admit it. Maybe when things calmed down, when he caught the murderer, maybe then she’d tell him.

She sighed as she glanced at his clock. She didn’t want to get out of bed at all but she had a class and an afternoon shift at the pub. She kissed his cheek softly and crawled over him in an effort to force her feet to the floor. But his other arm shot out and trapped her to his chest.

“Where are you going so early?” he mumbled, eyes still closed.

She groaned and wriggled, loosening his hold on her waist. “I have to shower and get to an early class. Don’t you have to go to work?”

“Yeah,” he said as he tugged her close enough to kiss. “I do, unfortunately. What time do you get off work?”

“Seven and I have to stop at home and check on the cat.” Her heart shivered in guilt at her poor, neglected pet.

“I’ll meet you at the pub at seven and follow you back to your place,” he said firmly, not leaving room for argument. He kissed her again, his lips lingering on hers. “Go ahead and shower. I’ll start the coffee.”

“So thoughtful,” she teased as she squirmed off of him, a little naughtily, and the fire that flamed in his eyes told her he’d get back to that later.

***

Grady stumbled to his desk, balancing a carryout tray of coffee, a box of donuts and his briefcase. He grunted at Ted, silently cursing the man for not giving him a hand. He managed to ease the tray on his desk as he dropped his briefcase on the chair and finagled the box of donuts next to the coffee.

“Thanks for breakfast, kid,” Ted grinned as he lifted his eyes from the report on his desk.

“You know, I don’t think I want to share,” Grady grumbled as he snatched a coffee and sipped it gratefully.

“Aw, don’t be so grouchy,” Ted said. “We have a slew of Pink Kitty employees coming in again today.”

That didn’t lift Grady’s mood in the least. He was tired of talking to scared dancers, disgruntled waitresses and bartenders, and gruff bouncers. Gabe, the owner, had been very gracious about coming in on little notice but Grady had a feeling that his business was suffering slightly with the bad publicity and the man was anxious for the case to be closed.

“Who are we talking to today?” Grady asked.

“That Shelby girl – the waitress slash bartender. Oh, and good old Carl, the decent guy,” Ted said, shuffling through the papers on his desk to produce a list. “And Leo, another bouncer.”

“Great,” Grady said, plucking a donut out of the box. He’d munched on a bowl of stale cereal that morning, cursing because he hadn’t found time to replenish his food supply, as Tess had politely declined breakfast, claiming she’d grab something on the way.

His moods were growing more and more irritable the longer he was on this case – especially when Tess wasn’t in his sight. He worried constantly about her, wondering if she was safe or if the murderers had finally selected her and were waiting for an opportunity to present itself. His focus was slipping and he was sure he was losing his edge.

He opened his files and, after licking donut glaze off his fingers, turned the pages. He just about had the whole thing memorized as he’d gone over it millions of times but he was at a loss where to go next. He’d met with the profiler, questioned as many past and current employees of the Pink Kitty as possible, and had discussed every piece of evidence with his partner until they were both blue in the face. And a lot of good it was doing him.

Maybe I haven’t been at this job long enough, he thought. Maybe I’m frustrated because this is the toughest case I’ve had to face as a detective.

He passed his ineptness off as lack of experience, pushing aside the nagging feeling that perhaps it was his worry over Tess that was hampering his thoughts. He’d vowed when he was first offered the position that he’d never let personal feelings cloud his judgment or stand in his way. He was going to honor that vow and trust that Tess was safe, very much aware of the danger she could be in and smart enough to heed his advice. He had to keep that in mind and focus on the case. He had to stop the murderers.

“Hey, junior,” Ted said, breaking into Grady’s thoughts. “I think Carl the decent guy is here.”

“Great,” Grady said, shoving papers into his file. He tucked the file under his arm, grabbed his coffee, and followed Ted into the smallest conference room where Carl had been ushered by another officer.

“Carl!” Ted greeted. “Nice to see you again. Thanks for coming in.”

Carl was a large man with rather large dark eyes and bushy hair and brows. He had a craggy face that rarely smiled – probably his way of intimidating people – and dressed in baggy jeans and soiled t-shirts. Grady wondered what a beautiful woman like Cheri Arndt had seen in him. Must be the ‘decent guy’ thing because it certainly wasn’t his looks or his apparel.

“Yeah, whatever,” Carl grunted. “Look, I’ve already told yous guys everything I know. What else do you want? Want me to solve the crime for you?”

“No,” Grady said slowly, grinding his patience between his teeth to keep it from totally leaving him. “We’re just trying to go over a few things, that’s all.”

“You told us that you were at a wedding out of town the weekend of Cheri Arndt’s murder, right?” Ted said, stepping in and giving Grady a moment to do a little deep breathing. “In Michigan?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Carl said. “Didn’t you check that out already?”

They had, Grady thought. They’d spoken to a cousin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula who had verified that she’d been married that weekend and that good ol’ cousin Carl had attended. Grady watched as Carl toyed with the scraggly hairs sprouting out of his chin. Maybe it was time to get their hands on the guest list.

“We did,” Ted said. “Look, Carl, I know we asked you before about anyone who might have had more than a little interest in Cheri but we’re hoping that maybe since you had a little time to think about it, maybe you remember something.”

“I told you,” Carl said, his fingers wild in the chin hair. “I told you that everyone noticed Cheri on that stage – that was the problem. I couldn’t stand listening to the guys talkin’ ‘bout how she was shaking her ass. I got rid of her and that’s that.”

“So,” Grady said, his brow furrowed. “You just ended your relationship because you didn’t like men looking at her? You didn’t suggest she find another job?”

He lifted a shoulder. “She liked the money and the attention. She liked the drugs. I didn’t want nothing to do with that shit anymore.”

“You’ve worked at the Kitty for what…ten years?” Ted asked.

“Give or take,” Carl said with another lift of the shoulder. “Something like that.”

“Have you ever been involved with any of the other girls in that time?” Ted asked.

“Nope,” Carl said succinctly. “None of them ever looked at me much. “Cept Cindy.”

Grady’s mind started whirring, working too fast for him to keep up. There was something psychological going on and he needed a few minutes to process it.

“Look, I got things to do,” Carl said, now picking at his teeth. “If you want to ask me more stuff, can we do it at the Kitty? I gotta job, you know, and if I’m not there, I’m not getting paid.”

“Yeah, sure,” Ted said with a dazzling smile. He extended a hand and Carl shook it as he rose out of his chair. He grunted a goodbye to Grady and beat feet out of the conference room.

“You have that look in your eye, Big Brain,” Ted said as he closed the door. “What did Mr. Decent Guy say?”

“Let’s get our hands on that wedding guest list and see how many people remember decent cousin Carl being at the festivities,” Grady suggested. “I have a feeling he might not have been there.”

“You think he might be part of this?” Ted asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” Grady admitted. “But he did say Cheri was the first dancer to give him the time of day and he hated how she liked the attention. Maybe he couldn’t stand seeing her up there after they got intimate or something. Maybe he thought she was taunting the customers – teasing the other guys and offering them a shot at her or something.”

“You really think he’s that deep?” Ted asked.

Grady snorted and stood. He walked to the door and rested a hand on the knob. “I don’t think that’s very deep at all. I think that’s a very basic way for any man to think when it comes down to it. Could you stand to see your wife up there on that stage?”

“Nope,” Ted said. “And I agree with you. I was thinking almost along the same lines as you. Maybe he broke it off to sort of prove some sort of point – dump her before she dumped him. And maybe then he offed her before she could take up with another guy.”

“And maybe it started him off,” Grady finished. “Let’s just take a deeper look at him and set our minds at ease.”

“It’s the only lead we have at the moment,” Ted said. “Let’s get to work.”

***

Tess walked across campus, tugging her jacket tighter around her body, and allowed her mind a chance to wonder. Yes, she was worried that she could be the next victim, but she had faith in Grady and, above all, faith in herself not to take any chances. He was the cop and knew better than her on how to stay safe, but she liked to think that she wasn’t entirely stupid and knew how to avoid certain situations. She’d take his advice and go only to school and work unescorted and wouldn’t go to her apartment unless he was with her. Sometimes she felt silly but it was better to be safe than sorry – at least, that’s what her grandmother used to say.

She unlocked her car and tossed her backpack in the back seat before climbing in the driver’s side. She started the car and let the engine warm up a little before putting it in gear. She had a little time before her shift started and she really didn’t want to drive all the way to Grady’s only to have to turn back and get to the pub so she figured she could go in early and chitchat until it was time to punch in.

“Hey, Tess,” Courtney greeted, her hands full of dirty glasses. “You’re early.”

“Yeah,” Tess said with a warm smile, following Courtney into the kitchen. She watched as Courtney placed the glasses on the counter for the dishwasher. “I just finished classes and didn’t want to run all the way home.”

Courtney rolled up the sleeves of her white button-up shirt as she turned to glance curiously at Tess. “You don’t live that far away, honey. What’s the deal?”

Tess had contemplated telling Courtney the truth for a few days now - after all, Courtney was the manager. But she had dreaded admitting her past employment. She’d never listed that job on any resumes. She sighed heavily and summoned her nerve. It was time, though, to let at least one of her superiors know what might be outside the doors, lurking, waiting for the right time to take Tess – especially if Grady and Ted intended to hang around as frequently as they had been.

“Courtney, do you think I could talk to you privately?” Tess asked.

“Sure, honey,” Courtney said, brushing her brunette bangs off her forehead. “Let’s take this to the office – Pete’s not here tonight.”

Tess nodded and followed Courtney through the kitchen, past the cooks and the other wait staff. They strolled down a short, narrow corridor and past the employee rest rooms, to an office in the back of the building. Courtney unlocked the door and held it open for Tess. Once they both settled in chairs – Courtney taking the seat behind the cluttered, sagging desk.

“What’s up, Tess?” Courtney asked, her forehead creased deeply. She folded her hands on top of Pete’s paperwork.

“I never told you – or anyone for that matter – about a job I took years ago,” Tess started. She plunged into her story, explaining about her years at the Pink Kitty. And Courtney took it well, which set Tess slightly at ease.

“Tess,” Courtney said softly. “That’s your past, honey. Hell, I’ve done things in my past I’m not proud of but that was just a job, that’s all.”

“I know,” Tess sighed. She swallowed and scooted to the very edge of her chair. “I’m sure you’ve heard about the murders around here, right?”

Courtney nodded and then gasped, her eyes bulging. “Tess, did you know those girls?”

“A few of them,” Tess said. “Um, do you know the two men that have been here nearly every time I’ve worked? The two cops?”

“Sure,” Courtney said. “But I thought you had something going with the young cute one.”

“I do,” Tess said as a deep heat rushed to her cheeks. “He’s investigating the case, but they, um, think that maybe I … might… you know…be on this killer’s hit list or something.”

Courtney’s brave façade lapsed. She gasped again as her hands fell to the desk, sending papers to the floor. “Oh, no, Tess! Are you sure? Do they have someone watching over you all the time? Is it safe for you to be here?”

“Relax,” Tess said with a hint of a smile. Courtney’s unease forced Tess to take charge of the situation and banished her fright to the back of her mind. “I’m staying with Grady right now and I only go to work and school. I don’t go back to my apartment alone at all.”

“But is that enough?” Courtney asked. “Don’t you think someone should be with you all the time?”

“No,” Tess said with a shudder. Too much of her independence had been taken away already and she didn’t want to lose anymore. “I’m safe here and at school. And Grady will be here when I get off work so I’m not alone.”

Courtney, temporarily appeased, nodded and settled back into the chair. “Is there anything we can do?”

“No, but thanks,” Tess said. “I just wanted you to be aware of the situation, that’s all.”

Courtney’s brow furrowed again in concentration as she studied Tess’ s face. “I should let Pete know about this. I’d like to not tell him about your former job – only because I know you’d rather he didn’t know – but I don’t know how I can tell him about this without revealing that fact.”

“You can tell him,” Tess said reluctantly, although she hated that another person had to know. But she couldn’t see a way around it. “He won’t say anything, right?”

“Oh, honey, you know he won’t,” Courtney reassured. She glanced at the clock and grimaced. “Your shift is about to start. Do you want the bar tonight?”

“Yes,” Tess said as she got to her feet. “And thanks, for everything.”

Courtney moved around the desk to hug Tess. “Anytime. Please, don’t be afraid to talk to me about things like this. And please keep me updated, okay?”

“I will,” Tess said as she left the office so she could grab an apron and punch in.

***

“Okay, so Aunt Eleanor can’t remember Carl being at the wedding,” Ted said as he dropped the phone. “But Cousin Randy does.”

Grady placed a check mark by a name on his list and smiled across the desk at Ted. “Well, Uncle Thomas said Carl definitely wasn’t there and so did this Kathy Fedder.” He dropped his pencil and rubbed his eyes. “So, we have more people who said he wasn’t there than people who said he was – but that doesn’t prove anything except that he’s probably a liar.”

“That and Cousin Melba the bride must have called all the people she knew who’d lie and told them to tell us that he was there after we called her and asked for the guest list,” Ted said.

“Of course,” Grady said sarcastically. “But I still think Carl is hiding something and I think he had something to do with at least Cheri’s murder.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you, kid,” Ted said as he tapped his pencil on his desk. His lips screwed up to the side of his face as his eyes took on a glazed look. “I'd like to say I think he's good for it but you have seen the man, right? He's sloppy and downright dirty. Our murder scenes have been damn near pristine.”

“Not all of them,” Grady said. He checked his watch and groaned. “We have a couple more interviews and it would be super fantastic if one of them let loose some sort of information. I mean, maybe one of them overheard Carl talking out of his ass about doing something to Cheri.”

“That would be more luck than we can hope for,” Ted said. “But if we ask carefully, maybe we will get something from one of them.”

“In the meantime, I’m going to run his record and his prints,” Grady said. He stood and nodded toward the door. “Let’s get ready for part two of the circus.”

A/N: Sorry it took so long but I'm just getting over my semi-annual bout with bronchitis. I finished this chapter last night while I was a bit loopy on the cough syrup but I was too tired to post it so here it is.

Thanks for sticking with it!