“Have a great time, call me tomorrow!” Kim enthused.
“Thanks, I will. Say hi to Charlie for me. Remember, you can’t say a word to him, or anyone, about Oscar. I can’t risk Randall hearing about us before I’m ready to tell him.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t spoil your fun. Just remember your friends when you land the whale.”
Sonja giggled. “From your lips.”
Chapter Six
“I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go out in public in this getup.” Jerry grumbled walking into the great room of her Nob Hill condo. “I look like a rainbow Popsicle.” She pulled the colorful leotard higher on her shoulders.
Both men stared as she entered the room, Dylan’s sandwich poised halfway to his mouth, and Ethan’s coffee cup suspended in midair. Dylan found his voice first.
“I can tell you why, you look amazing. Make sure you wear a coat, or else you’ll stop traffic.” Dylan grinned at Jerry’s blush.
“Yes, ummm, yes.” Ethan’s tongue wouldn’t work, and his thoughts were all jumbled. Seeing Jerry dressed in a body sculpting leotard and matching tights nearly caused his heart to stop.
“Shouldn’t there be more to it than this? I’m doing yoga, not ballet.” Self-conscious, but determined not to show it, Jerry moved towards the kitchen. “What’s wrong with a decent pair of sweats? I can downward dog with the best of them, just fine, in my old clothes.”
“Check the dresser, there should be coordinating pants.” Dylan told her, then went back to his sandwich. “Katherine took yoga.” He answered Jerry’s unspoken question.
“Thanks, I’ll look after I eat. How is the ex, by the way? You haven’t mentioned her lately.” Jerry went about preparing her lunch.
“Things are good. We’re finally on speaking terms again. How about bringing some chips to the table when you come.”
Jerry grabbed a bag from the stocked pantry and joined the men. Ethan was looking everywhere but at her.
“That’s good. What’s it been, three years since the divorce?” Jerry handed Dylan the chips.
“Something like that.” Tearing open the bag, he chose to change the subject. “So, yoga this afternoon, then an appointment at the salon. Sounds exhausting.” He grinned.
“Bite me. So what did you find out this morning?”
“Not much. The neighbors were useless. Apparently, people keep to themselves around here. The latest victim, Jenna, had a doorman. I’m meeting him this afternoon. He’s been on vacation since she disappeared, the cops haven’t even talked to him yet. Maybe he can shed some light.”
“Doormen can be excellent sources. Bring cash.” Ethan finally found his voice.
“Got it covered.” Dylan nodded, then attacked his lunch.
“You’re not eating?” Jerry asked Ethan. Since their searing kiss earlier, they had both been careful not to touch the other. She wondered if it had affected him, as much as it had affected her. The kiss cemented their chemistry, no one would doubt they were a couple. They had spent most of their free time chatting, getting to know likes and dislikes that meant nothing to the case, but everything to their supposed romance. Jerry liked knowing that he loved dogs, enjoyed reading, and played rugby. She’d also found that opening up to him about her own life was effortless.
“Not yet, I’ll get something later. My body thinks it’s in Europe.” His answering smile warmed her heart, and made her toes curl, just a little.
“Sorry, forgot. Nate asked me to tell you that you’ve got eight o’clock reservations for dinner tonight, at Quincette.” Dylan noticed the energy change between Jerry and Ethan, and wondered if she was taken in by the slick bastard. He made a mental note to talk to her later.
“Thanks. Any particular reason for that restaurant?” Jerry asked.
“Nope, just that it’s high end, and popular among the beautiful people.” Dylan grinned at her again. “I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”
“The idea is for us to be seen, we’ll be dining out a lot in the next few days. It’s better if we have drinks at one location, then move on to another for dinner. We can cover more ground that way. We should also attend the opera one night, and obtain an invitation to any important events in the next week.” Ethan snagged a chip from Jerry’s plate.
“That shouldn’t be too difficult, considering the city is rolling out the red carpet for our investigation. I’m sure Nate is already working on it.” Jerry slid a sideways look at Ethan, imagining how he would look in a tux. She couldn’t wait. “Is there anyone in particular that I should make friends with in the yoga class? Nate’s text was pretty generic.”
“I’m not sure. Rodney may have more info. He’s with the local office, and will be your driver this afternoon.” Dylan picked up his empty plate and headed for the kitchen. Keep your phone handy, I’ll let you know if the doorman knows anything.” Turning to face Ethan, Dylan continued. “Why don’t you hang here, get some shut-eye. You look like you could use it.”
“Thanks, I think I will.” Ethan took Dylan’s comment in stride and didn’t rise to the bait. “Let me know if you find out anything.”
~~~
Within minutes of Dylan and Jerry leaving the condo, Ethan crashed on top of the bed. Dreams of a certain caramel-haired beauty peppered his sleep, until the insistent buzzing of his phone broke through.
“Yeah.” He muttered into the phone.
“Sorry to disturb your beauty sleep, Barnes, but I thought you’d want to hear this.” Dylan’s voice boomed through the phone, jarring Ethan awake. Glancing at the clock, he realized that he’d only been sleeping an hour.
“What’ve you got?” He asked.
“The doorman remembers a man in a red Maserati Gran Turismo convertible picking Jenna up a few times last week. He never saw his face, but the car was unforgettable. Brand new, custom rims, with black interior.”
“That should narrow down the suspect pool. How many red Maserati convertibles could there be in this city?”
“You’d be surprised, but we’re on it. Question is, is our guy stupid enough to keep driving that car, after Jenna’s body was found? I doubt it.”
“Casanova is definitely not stupid. Still, it’s a good lead.”
“It could be. Go back to sleep.” Dylan disconnected.
~~~
“That was intense.” Jerry struck up a conversation with the twenty-something, buxom, blond, standing next to her at the athletic club’s juice bar. The woman had managed the routine seamlessly, Jerry was a little envious of her flexibility.
“Always is, Sinjen really knows his stuff.” The blonde smiled and struck a pose, one elbow on the bar.
“You were great. With your moves, you could be teaching the class.” Jerry assumed that flattery would ingratiate her into the woman’s world.
“Thanks. I’m here nearly every day, I should be good at it by now.” The blonde’s smile deepened, becoming more genuine. “I haven’t noticed you here before.”
“It’s my first time. I’m Jerry.” Jerry briefly wondered about the protocol for meeting after a yoga class, should she extend her hand? She opted for a relaxed pose, as both hands were filled.
“I’m Kim, nice to meet you.” Kim motioned to a nearby table. “Care to sit? I’m always so relaxed after class, standing is a chore.”
“Sure, thanks.” Jerry followed her to the small table. “I’m afraid I’ll be paying for the class tomorrow. It’s been awhile since I’ve stretched my body that way.” She laughed.
“Yeah, you’ll be paying for it.” Kim laughed. “Are you new in town, or just new to the club?”
“New in town. My friend has business in the area, so we’ll be here for at least six months. I couldn’t just shop, or sit home all day, you know? So, I joined the club.” Jerry slid easily into the role. “I mean, a girl’s gotta stay in shape, right?” She winked and hoped it looked natural.
“Definitely. I see my body as one of my biggest assets.” Kim sat up a little straighter.
“Charlie, my friend, sees it that way too.” Kim laughed as she emphasized the word ‘friend.’
“I can see why. It definitely pays to stay in shape.” Jerry laughed, tossing her hair back.
“I’ll say. You seem to stay fit, what’s your secret, if it’s not yoga?” Kim felt an instant kinship with Jerry. They were obviously cut from the same cloth.
“I box, at least, I used to.” Jerry frowned slightly. “No, really,” she responded to Kim’s raised eyebrows. “It’s a great way to maintain all this,” she indicated her body with a sweep of her hand, “and release frustration at the same time.”
“That’s something I’ve never considered. Boxing. Why did you stop?” Kim was intrigued, she knew something about frustration.
“My sparring partner became too aggressive, and I got bruised. Ethan, my friend, didn’t like it. So I stopped.” Jerry tossed her hair again. “We moved here a week later. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to work out at all.”
“We do have to keep our friends happy.” Kim smiled in sympathy. “You have beautiful hair, it reminds me of my friend, Sonja’s,” she added.
“Thanks. It’s a job keeping it long, but Ethan likes it. I’d have it short, like yours, if it were up to me.” Jerry preened a little, as was expected. “Does Sonja take classes here, too? I need to find a good stylist in the area, one who can deal with long hair.”
“Yes, but she had other plans this afternoon. She’ll probably be here tomorrow. You can meet her then, if you come back.”
“If I can get out of bed, you mean.” Jerry laughed.
Kim looked at her watch, a white gold Rolex Cellini Cellissima. “Oops, I’ve gotta run. Charlie’s dropping by after work today. It was nice talking with you, Jerry. I hope you make it back tomorrow.” Kim’s smile was as genuine as the diamonds encircling her watch.
“Thanks, Kim, I’ll try. It was nice meeting you, too.” Jerry raised her orange juice and nodded, grateful that she didn’t wear her old, reliable Timex to class. As Kim left, Jerry found her phone and sent a text to Dylan, asking for an update. She hoped Ethan was sleeping; he’d looked dead on his feet when she’d left the condo.
While waiting for Dylan’s response, she sipped her juice and let her mind shift to the roller coaster ride of emotions she’d felt since meeting Ethan Barnes. To say that he was a surprise was a gross understatement. Up until that very morning, Jerry had secretly harbored a crush on Dylan. She was biding her time, until he seemed ready to move on, after his divorce. She knew how crazy it was to fall for a coworker, and she didn’t sit idly by, waiting for the phone to ring. She enjoyed dating, but thoughts of Dylan were always in the back of her mind. He was the measuring stick she used to judge all other men. Until this morning.
It occurred to her that she hadn’t compared Ethan to Dylan once. In fact, whatever romantic feelings she thought she had for Dylan, seemed to vanish, as soon as she opened the door to Ethan. Strange.
And that kiss, she thought, feeling an involuntary shudder race through her. That kiss was like nothing she’d ever experienced, and she’d kissed her fair share of men. “None who looked like that,” she muttered aloud. Her physical reaction to him had been startling, but the attraction had only deepened as she’d gotten to know him.
He’d shared a little of his childhood, growing up on the Gold Coast of Australia. His father was a Diplomat, his mother was a pediatrician. Shades of loneliness had crept into his voice when he talked of being an only child, but they were soon overshadowed by the obvious love he felt for his family. “They gave me everything,” he’d said, “a solid foundation, education, travel, and most of all, their time. As busy as they were, I always knew that I came first.” Jerry envied him that, and had managed to quickly change the subject when he asked about her childhood. For some reason, she didn’t want to lie to Ethan, but she was also not ready to tell him the ugly truth, especially in the face of his idyllic upbringing.
Dylan’s detailed text came through, just as she rose to leave the club. A red Maserati, she read. Could Casanova be more conspicuous? Stepping outside into the damp day, she wished she could be investigating with Dylan, rather than going to a stupid nail appointment.
Rodney stood ready to open the back door of the shiny black town car. He looked as bored as she felt.
“Thanks,” she said and slid onto the cool luxury of the beige leather seats.
“Home to change?” Rodney asked as he started the car.
“Nope, no time. They’ll have to take me as I am.” Luckily, Dylan had been right about the matching pants to the ridiculously colorful leotard. She’d also found a jacket to complete the camouflage.
“Any luck?” Rodney was a man of few words.
“Maybe, I made a new friend who may have a friend fitting Casanova’s type. We’ll see tomorrow.” Jerry relaxed as Rodney maneuvered his way through the crowded streets. “What about you, see anyone interesting hanging around?”
“You mean did I see anyone driving a red Mas? No such luck. Nate thinks he’s stashed the car, too smart to drive it around now.”
“I agree with Nate. This guy’s no dummy, but doesn’t it seem odd to you that he would be so conspicuous in the first place? Most serials blend in; this guy is practically thumbing his nose at us. He’s either too cocky, or he has more than one luxury vehicle at his disposal.”
“Nate thinks he’s got a private garage somewhere. It’s the only way he could disappear in the city. Traffic cams are everywhere.” Rodney brought the car to a smooth stop in front of a trendy-looking salon.
“Too trendy.” Jerry wrinkled her nose in distaste as she waited for him to open the door. “Back in an hour or so,” she told him with an apologetic smile. She knew that one of the worst things a good agent could experience was downtime. She could tell that Rodney was not a fan of being a glorified bodyguard.
“I’ll be here.” He smiled back at her in understanding. “At least I’ve got a scanner.”
Chapter Seven
“Oh, Oscar, what a beautiful spot for a picnic. The sun will set directly in front of us. However did you find it? It’s so far from civilization.” Sonja walked to the edge of the deserted cliff, peeking over at the churning Pacific below.
“Anything for you, my dear. I wanted today to be special, just the two of us.” The man calling himself Oscar spread a blanket near the edge of the cliff. He considered actually going along with the picnic, the sunset promised to be spectacular.
It had taken him days of hiking to find this spot. After the last debacle, he needed to be certain that this one’s body would not be discovered too soon. He liked San Francisco, and would prefer to settle in for a bit.
“Come sit with me, Os.” Sonja settled onto the blanket, holding out her hand.
He managed not to cringe at the insipid nickname she insisted on using. Instead, he took her hand and settled beside her. Her use of the nickname clarified his decision. He would enjoy the picnic, after he’d taken care of her.
This one reminded him the most of his fiancé, Elizabeth. There was something about the way she raised her eyebrows when she spoke that sent him rushing back to the most idyllic time of his life. Even now, as the one beside him prattled on about the scenery, his thoughts drifted to his one and only true love, his Beth.
Their time together had been much too brief, but it had been perfect. At least until the end. Beth was everything he’d ever imagined his wife to be; beautiful, statuesque, cultured and accomplished. She complemented him in every way.
Had Sonja bothered to look at Oscar just then, she might have mistaken the light in his eyes as love for her. Instead, Sonja leaned back against him, continuing her tale of childhood adventures on the rocky beaches of Maine. The man she called Oscar continued to remember his Beth, with the slanted perspective that only one with his particular delusional disorder could conjure.
Beth loved him, of that he was certain. He never understood why she tried to hide from him near the end, or
how she could lay in another man’s bed.
The man’s eyes darkened as he remembered the rage he felt, walking in on his Beth, opening her legs for that nouveau riche peasant. He could still see the fear, and pain, in her lover’s eyes, as he stripped him of his skin, and smell the scent of burning flesh, as he made the man pay for his sins. It surprised and pleased him that, even now, he could hear his Beth screaming as he forced her to watch her lover’s punishment.
It was a point of honor for him that he’d been merciful when he killed Beth. Honorable though it was, her death had not been as satisfying as it should have been. Thus began his quest to duplicate the experience, in hopes that he would finally find true satisfaction.
Glancing down at the woman who’d plastered herself against him, ‘Oscar’ took a deep breath. Maybe this one would give him what he needed.
“Let’s take a walk,” he invited, as soon as she stopped talking long enough to take a breath. “The sun will be setting soon, and I’d like to find the perfect spot to watch.” He gently pushed her away from his body, stood, then held out his hand to her.
“Sure, Os, but I don’t know where we’ll find a better spot than this one.” Sonja smiled and let him pull her to her feet.
“Let’s get closer to the edge,” he suggested, leading the way. As docile as a kitten, she followed him.
Minutes later, his task complete, the man settled back on the blanket and reached into the picnic basket. The sun was a large, orange, orb that deepened in color with every passing second. As it dipped below the watery horizon, he enjoyed a sip of champagne, and a taste of goose liver, while he considered his next move. Though he had enjoyed the kill, this one had not brought the peace he’d been searching for. Without a doubt, he knew that she was out there, the brunette beauty whose death would be enough.