"Hey, Taylor," Lorenzo said. "Alright already. Why Holladay park? What are you going to show me? Or are we here to talk? If so I think we are far enough away from anyone. No one can overhear us, you paranoid bastard."
Taylor laughed at this masterful and engaging description of himself. And despite having a casual stroll with a killer, Lorenzo found he was smiling back at him anyway. It was a nice day for it. As the weather was warmish, various people, mothers and their kids were hanging out and having a picnic. There were children playing near a fountain, screaming and laughing as kids do. The young kids were all running wild with the other kids. It was almost like summertime.
John Taylor drew closer, so that both men were walking together along a little pathway. "So," Taylor said. "I see that your partner, Lucille Irwin violated protocol and showed my file to my girlfriend's parents. That was rather overstepping her bounds, wasn't it?"
"Yeah? So? Make a complaint."
Taylor stopped suddenly, giving Lorenzo a crooked smile and a shrewd knowing look. "I didn’t think you knew anything about it. Irwin went off on her own, didn't she?" Taylor clearly read Lorenzo's expression of chagrin. "Ha. I thought so. I bet you tore her a new one, didn’t you? Well, good for you."
Lorenzo tried to maintain a disinterested face, but this weird bastard was just a little too acute. How did he know? It was like he was a mind-reader. Lorenzo said nothing.
"Anyway, I should make a complaint," Taylor said, and his tone abruptly became fierce. "Your partner upset Kelly."
Lorenzo slowed his walk in order to study Taylor's body language. Now that right there is the most honest and clear emotion I've seen from the icy bastard, Lorenzo thought. Lucille upset Taylor's girl. Interesting.
"My lawyer feels, as lawyers often do, that suing the police bureau would be a good move," John Taylor added, once more using that calm, unreadable expression of his. "Apparently I could have her charged for some breach or another in the Privacy Act and she would lose her job. It would all go to court, of course, and it would no doubt be pretty ugly. If I did that, some of that dirt may just fall on you."
Lorenzo came to a full stop. "Listen Taylor, what the fuck do you want? Are you trying to threaten me or something? Because I don’t give a rats."
The truth was, Lorenzo did care. If this bastard went to court, it would begin a long tedious investigative process with numerous irritating and time wasting interviews - not unlike a witch hunt. No matter what the outcome, it would end up looking bad on Lorenzo's record.
"Actually," Taylor added turning and starting the long walk back to the police cruiser. "Now that I've cooled down I've decided not to make an issue out of it. I was pretty happy to find out what was in that file. It made fascinating reading."
"Is that right?" Lorenzo growled. "Well I can't see how there would be any surprises. You ought to know what you've done, unless you're getting a bit demented. Do you think dementia is setting in, Taylor? Because maybe you should see a doctor. Oh, that's right, you'll have to find one first. You already killed your shrink."
Taylor froze abruptly and unexpectedly, and even with a totally emotionless expression, the well built, slightly taller man looked scary.
Dangerous scary.
Lorenzo had to consciously prevent his hand from instinctively moving toward his gun. Wow. I sure pissed him off, Lorenzo thought.
They continued walking and Taylor returned to his normal, inscrutable manner. When they got to the car, the drive back was silent once more. What the fuck? Why did this guy drag me out there anyway? Lorenzo wondered. And why Holladay park? What was Taylor going to show me?
Lorenzo parked his car in the police parking lot. John Taylor released his seat belt, making no move to get out of the cruiser. Looking at Lorenzo, Taylor met his gaze, eye to eye. From his top pocket, Taylor pulled out a USB stick.
"This is for you."
"Oh yeah?" Lorenzo said. "What is it? And why didn’t the search warrant find it?"
Taylor just gave him raised eyebrows. "Listen to me now, Lorenzo," he said in a tremendously compelling voice. "This memory stick is full of information that no one has. It's extremely dangerous. If I were you I would view it in my home, away from prying eyes. I would treat it like high octane. Don't say I didn’t warn you."
"Oh, so we're on first name basis now are we?"
"Yeah. I don't know why, but I like you, Lorenzo," John Taylor said. "I think you're a good cop."
Lorenzo's hollow laugh dripped with scorn. "Well isn’t that flattering? The sociopathic killer likes me. Thanks so much."
Unperturbed, Taylor gave him a sardonic smile and got out of the car. Taylor bent to look at Lorenzo through the open passenger door. "Watch that and get back to me," he said.
"Why me?" Lorenzo said getting out of the police cruiser and locking it.
Taylor unlocked his Mercedes with a beep, opened it and got in. The driver's side electric window rolled down and Taylor leaned out of the window slightly to speak. He waited for Lorenzo to come closer.
"You want to know why you? I'll tell you. Because sometimes the best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to simply go ahead and trust them."
Lorenzo frowned and a long moment passed while he processed this cryptic little comment. WTF? So Taylor, the animal torturing killer has decided to trust me, huh? Why? Does he think I'll be flattered when any normal man would be sickened?
"Are you listening to me, Lorenzo?" John asked breaking the Detective's train of thought.
Something in Taylor's commanding voice or gaze snapped Lorenzo into attention and he stared at the handsome compelling murderer sitting in the classy car in front of him.
"You really need to hear this, Lorenzo," Taylor said. "Only three people in the world have ever seen what's on that USB stick. I'm one. You know the other, and the last one is dead, recently murdered." Taylor's dark eyes stared into Lorenzo's intently, and Lorenzo felt a chill of threat and foreboding. "You'll want to keep that in mind, Lorenzo," Taylor said as the Mercedes purred to life.
"Hey, Taylor," Lorenzo spoke up as his suspect put the car into gear. "Why Holladay park? What were you going to show me?"
Taylor smiled broadly, and once more Lorenzo felt the mesmerizing charm of that smile. Fuck me. The man was definitely a chick magnet, Lorenzo decided.
"Oh," Taylor said in his deep, cultured voice. "Why nothing at all, actually. It’s a nice day, Lorenzo. We went to the park because I wanted you to have a chance to enjoy the weather, and a pleasant outdoor walk in the sun. I thought you could use the break." Taylor's eyes narrowed and he intently studied the Detective, as if testing that possibility or uncovering all of Lorenzo's secrets. Then his lips twitched and he nodded. "I was right, wasn't I?"
Lorenzo watched as his main suspect, John Taylor drove off with his expensive clothes in his expensive sports car.
This shifty bastard is too acute, Detective Lorenzo Martin thought. Much too aware of everything and everyone.
20. Richard's News
Kelly sat at John's kitchen table fascinated.
John really was an unusual person. Tonight he had made a kind of salad thing for dinner. It had fresh mango and cucumber in a bowl and on top were giant shrimp that had been fried with ginger, chili and garlic. Kelly who loved cooking was blown away. The meal was something she might have made, except the price of fresh shrimp would have put her off buying it. John had endless money so never thought like that.
"John," Kelly said bubbling with admiration after her first bite. "You are amazing. I LOVE this. So yummy. I've never tasted anything like it."
John smiled that smile of his that always made Kelly want to melt. Even his dark brown eyes had a laugh in them. As per usual, John was eye bleeding, lung collapsing, heart stopping, drop dead beautiful.
John was wearing a pair of blue jeans that accented his trim hips and waist, not to mention his perfect butt. He was wearing a dark blue button down shirt that he had tucked in, and his brown belt accented his perfect
physical proportions. Something about the open neck collar, with a small scattering of chest hair drew her attention.
Kelly wanted to kiss that neck and chest. Jesus, the man was simply gorgeous. And he had her heart completely.
"I thought you'd like it," John said. "It is unique and creative, kind of like you, Kelly."
Kelly just grinned at him. John was constantly praising and flattering her, but everything he said was completely sincere. He took her breath away, and more surprisingly, he took her words away. How did someone reply to a compliment as nice as that?
Kelly's phone rang and she swallowed her mouthful and answered it when she saw that it was her older brother.
"Hey, Richard," she said. Kelly hadn't spoken to her parents for two weeks. Richard was the intermediary, and her poor brother hated being piggy in the middle.
"How are you doing?" Richard asked. "Any news?"
Kelly had told Richard everything. Other than her sexual kinks, she had never kept secrets from her big brother, and he returned the favor. Richard knew the score. Maria Lopez's killer had to be found before that female detective got off their case, although after John had threatened to sue all had become strangely quiet.
Had John's father killed Maria Lopez and set John up? It seemed likely, but why?
"Sorry, Richard," Kelly said. "No news, except that John and I are formally engaged." Kelly looked at her daisy ring that she was wearing on her left hand, and smiled across at John. He gave her an intense possessive gaze of total ownership that made her catch her breath. God the man was such a distraction.
"Good for you, Kelly," Richard said. "Congratulations. I like him. Even in grade school he was weird, but he wasn't an asshole. I understand now. It's amazing he turned out okay, with all he went through. Anyway, I know how much he adores you. I don’t think anyone could love you the way that man loves you, Kelly. You're the most important person in the world to him, and that is just as it should be. He's protective, too. Those security guards that follow you around are really something. But there was a murder, and one can't be too careful. I am really, really happy for you."
"Thanks, Richard." John was in the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of mango juice. He lifted up a glass with a questioning look and Kelly nodded.
"So," Richard said. "Mom and dad got your second long newsy letter. I think they are chilling out a bit. This estrangement can’t go on much longer - Dad will definitely crack. He misses you so much. You know he has always liked you best, you little favorite." Richard said this without any malicious intent or jealousy. Dad and Kelly had always been close, probably because they had such similar, naturally upbeat personalities. "Oh, Maria, Katrina and Jamie all send their love, too. Dad asked me for John's phone number and I gave it to him."
John put a glass of mango juice on the table in front of her and sat back down. Kelly smiled her thanks, and took a sip. Kelly had given John's number to Richard in case he needed it. Her older brother, Richard, was completely on Kelly and John's side. The unwavering trust Richard had in Kelly’s judgment and the love he had for her, his little sister, warmed Kelly’s heart.
"I hope that's okay," Richard said.
"Oh," Kelly said. "I think that's a great idea. I'll tell John." Kelly briefly explained what Richard had said.
With a considering expression, John nodded.
They didn’t chat long, as Richard had simply wanted to warn John to expect a phone call. Kelly thanked Richard, told him she loved him, and hung up. John's eyes were bright. He looked happy, and that made her happy.
"It's all going to be okay, Kelly," John said. "I know it will."
"Yes," she said. "Because living without us being together is not an option."
Kelly had given notice at her apartment and had already moved a lot of her stuff into John's house. It was stupid to have separate dwellings, because they spent every minute together anyway. That would never change. It may seem fast to some, but when it was right, it was right. There was no reason to wait. Kelly knew that she genuinely was in love with John from that first night they had spent together.
Kelly now looked at life as 'before John' and 'after John.'
'Before John' was a stupid, pointless existence with anxious petty problems it seemed to her. Kelly had spent so much time worrying about what her mother said or thought. She had felt anxious about her profession, needing to do something interesting that would be acceptable. She also wasted time putting herself down, and being hyper critical of her boyish body, her mouth, her manly jaw, her hair.
In the 'after John' Kelly knew what was really important.
John's constant genuine praise made her self-esteem soar. Why had she been focused on her physical imperfections? And on what others thought? Now she was considering continuing in a musical career, perhaps joining a choir, because it was what she wanted to do. Not for the money, or her mother – but because it was her. And as for her mother… well, everything with her family would work out in time.
John had finished his meal. Kelly continued eating, while John intently watched her take in each mouthful. There was unconcealed lust in his eyes. Fuck could this man turn her on or what?
He was always the mind-reader, but she knew him pretty well now, too.
John was studying her lips, and imagining his cock sliding between them. John saw her awareness, and gave her a sexy, seductive smile, an acknowledgment that she was right. John planned to have her on her knees in front of the mirror in his bedroom, right after dinner. Yum. They simply couldn’t get enough of each other. Ever. They were still screwing probably twenty times a day. Would this mutual sexual craving and obsession of theirs ever go away?
I sure hope not, Kelly thought. My life might be falling apart because I've disowned my parents, my boyfriend is wanted for murder, and there is a psychopathic killer out there who most likely has me on the top of his 'To-do' list. But other than that – things couldn't be going better!
21.John and Lorenzo
John stared at Kelly, smiling.
He knew, that she knew, that he was going to have her on her knees in front of his bedroom mirror - right after dinner. The sense of connection he had with Kelly was continuing to grow, and seemed more powerful with every passing minute.
John's cell phone rang - something it never did. Kelly had his number, but she was right here. Brenda Lopez had his number, but she was dead. Colin Wilkins had his number, but had been told not to call. That left André Chevalier but this number was unlisted, so it couldn’t be him.
Was it Kelly's dad calling perhaps? Alert and prepared for anything, John went ahead and answered his phone.
"Mr. John Taylor," a familiar tenor voice said. "Nice video you gave me. Christ, I haven’t slept since I saw the damn thing."
"Detective Lorenzo Martin," John said with a low chuckle. "Sorry about that. It isn’t funny, but in a strange way, it kind of is. Welcome to my world. I lived that video, and I haven’t been sleeping well for years."
A long, loud sigh came through the phone. "We need to talk. I know it's late, but can I see you? I'm thinking of the coffee shop just north of Holladay Park, called Café Olé. My cruiser will be parked outside."
"Right now?" John asked, looking at Kelly with an upraised eyebrow. Kelly gave a 'sure' kind of shrug.
"Yes."
"I'll be there in fifteen," John said and disconnected.
John had explained earlier to Kelly how he had given the video to Detective Martin with the hope of enlisting some help on the case. As his father had broken the truce already by putting false information into his police records, John thought a little bit of tit for tat couldn't hurt.
John called the security guard into the house from the man's car outside. The guard was all muscle, an ex Marine and was doing the two to ten shift. John asked the guard to stay inside with Kelly while he was gone.
When John was sure all was well, he kissed Kelly, and whispered in her ear to be ready for him because when he got back he fully intended to have
her in a number of different ways. John got into his car, waved good bye to his blushingly aroused sub, and left for his rendezvous with Detective Martin.
Why now? John thought as he backed out of his driveway and on to the road. Why is my father creating trouble now? It's been thirteen years since I suffered under his hands, and the truce has held all that time.
John's father represented what John despised most in a badly trained or malicious Dom. The man's inconsistency and unpredictability had been relentless. He punished John if he climaxed, he punished him if he didn’t. The safest option was to remain emotionless, and this had become a survival mechanism and a habit.
John had felt nothing - except for anger and hate. As time went on John had become as André had said, 'cut off,' from people, incapable of feeling, or climaxing in front of others. He had only been capable of connecting during a scene.
Without Kelly, John thought, pulling up to a stoplight, I would still be living that dark, loveless life.
The familiar grief hit him, as he remembered what he had confessed to Kelly so recently. Other than once with André, a moment he could hardly remember, the last time John had cried was when he was eight years old. Kelly now knew the worst of his sins, and she loved him anyway.
John easily found parking on the street and walked into Café Olé.
The cafe was set out in the reds and gold's of a Spanish theme, and there was a mix of small tables, bar seating, comfortable couches and chairs and a restful atmosphere. Wi-fi was available, and a few people, judging by the number of plates and cups around them, looked like they had camped out and spent most of the day here already. The noise level was a pleasant buzz, with seventies background music.
It seemed a busy place for a Thursday night. When John walked in, Lorenzo raised a hand, and John told the wait staff that he already had a seat. Lorenzo had nabbed a quiet little corner out of earshot of other patrons. Lorenzo must have gotten here awhile ago as he already had eaten what looked and smelled like might have been pancakes and bacon.