Monster In The Closet (The Baltimore Series Book 5)

‘Eventually, yes. And I’m okay with it. I’m okay that everyone knew but me, because I know why Cordelia couldn’t let me know. I get it. I guess I’m a little unrealistic in my expectations when it comes to how other people deal with fear.’

  ‘Because you have none. And you need some.’

  ‘Workin’ on it. Baby steps, JD. Baby steps.’

  And for some reason that made her smile. But before he could ask her why, his cell buzzed. ‘Maggie,’ he said, reading the text. ‘She says the next session’s canceled because the kid has a cold. Taylor will be free for the next twenty minutes. I’m going to the office to meet with her now, to make sure she’s willing to do the one-on-one with Jazzie.’

  Stevie threw a cautious look over her shoulder toward Maggie’s farmhouse. ‘I’ll come too. Once I have all the information, I’ll relay it to Clay.’

  ‘My head thanks you,’ JD said dryly. ‘Lucy likes it connected to my neck. So maybe we can keep it there.’

  ‘That’s up to you, Detective.’ Stevie headed to the barn, leaning heavily on her cane.

  ‘You gonna be okay, Stevie?’

  She nodded. ‘Just sore muscles because I haven’t ridden in a while. Although it might be a while before I ride again. Come on. I’ll introduce you to Taylor.’

  Hunt Valley, Maryland,

  Sunday 23 August, 10.45 A.M.

  Taylor found herself sitting in front of Maggie’s desk for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. And feeling almost as nervous as she had last night. This was a different kind of nerves, though. Last night was all oh-shit-I’m-busted. But today . . . it would be the first time meeting one of Clay’s friends, now that they knew who she was.

  Detective JD Fitzpatrick wanted to meet her because she’d be meeting with Jazzie later today. But it was more than that and Taylor knew it. It was important that JD approve, because he was important to Clay.

  ‘Relax,’ Maggie murmured.

  ‘Easy for you to say,’ Taylor muttered. ‘You’re not the one under the microscope.’

  ‘True, but I don’t think anyone will judge you.’ Maggie smiled. ‘And if they do, they’ll answer to me.’

  Taylor wanted to smile back, but she couldn’t force her lips to curve. ‘These people are all important, Maggie. I mean, Fitzpatrick is Clay’s friend. He was Stevie’s partner when she was a cop, right?’

  ‘Yes.’ Maggie’s voice was calm. ‘But JD and Stevie go back much farther than that. He’s Cordelia’s godfather, and Stevie is godmother to JD’s son.’

  Taylor groaned quietly. ‘God, this just gets worse. Stevie’s barely over wanting to kick my ass back to California. This Fitzpatrick guy better like me or she might change her mind.’ She was being overly dramatic, she knew. She hoped, at least. God.

  Maggie chuckled. ‘I’ll risk sounding like a cliché by telling you to just be yourself.’ She reached across the desk to pat Taylor’s hand. ‘It will be fine. This isn’t about Clay and it’s not really about you at this point.’

  ‘It’s about Jazzie.’ Taylor sat up straighter. ‘Getting her to talk. Keeping her safe.’

  Maggie’s nod was approving. ‘Exactly.’ Someone knocked on her office door and she glanced at the monitor on her desk. ‘It’s JD, and Stevie’s with him. Can I tell them to come in?’

  ‘Of course.’ Taylor stood up and schooled her expression to one of cordial interest. Not about you, she reminded herself. This is for Jazzie.

  Stevie came through the door first and dropped into one of Maggie’s club chairs. She looked a little pale. She was followed by a man Taylor recognized from a few of the newspaper articles she’d studied. Homicide Detective JD Fitzpatrick was Clay’s height, but lean where Clay was bulky. Maybe a few years younger than Clay. He appeared to be unaffected by the heat, despite wearing a navy-blue suit and a tie. His dark hair was threaded with silver at the temples. His eyes were dark blue, darker even than his suit, and laser-focused on her face. His mouth curved into a polite smile as he stuck out his hand in greeting.

  ‘I’m Detective Fitzpatrick. I’m investigating the murder of Valerie Jarvis.’

  Taylor blinked, hiding her surprise. Oh. She’d expected first names. Okay. Formal it is then. She shook his hand. ‘I’m Taylor Dawson. It’s good to meet you.’

  ‘Likewise,’ he said, then gestured to the chair in which she’d been sitting. ‘Please.’

  Taylor sat gingerly. Warily. This hadn’t started as she’d expected. A side glance at Maggie confirmed that the older woman was also surprised.

  Stevie heaved a sigh from the chair. ‘For God’s sake, JD, be a human being. Taylor, this is JD. JD, Taylor. Clay’s daughter.’

  Fitzpatrick’s cheeks actually reddened. Why? Taylor wondered. Embarrassment? Annoyance? Anger? It was hard to tell.

  ‘Of course, Stevie,’ he said. ‘You’re right. It’s very nice to meet you, Taylor. You’ll have to excuse me. I was anticipating meeting the intern therapist, but instead I find myself meeting Clay’s long-lost daughter. I’m still processing that information.’

  Annoyance and anger, Taylor decided. And no, sir, I won’t excuse you. But she’d be polite. For Clay. She’d opened her mouth to speak when Stevie chuffed in irritation.

  ‘JD, I thought we’d settled this. Clay is over the moon about Taylor being here. I am too. I am not upset. Therefore you are not allowed to be upset. Okay?’ Without waiting for a response, Stevie turned to Maggie. ‘I could really use some water and crackers if you have them.’

  ‘Are you all right?’ Taylor asked, concerned because Stevie was still very pale.

  Stevie waved her hand. ‘Fine. Just overheated.’

  Maggie supplied the items, her grey brows lifted, apparently not convinced, but she didn’t push it. ‘So, JD, we’re here about Jazzie?’

  ‘Yes.’ He smoothed a hand over his tie. ‘What have you been told, Taylor?’

  Taylor met Fitzpatrick’s eyes unflinchingly. If they were going to have a less-than-friendly relationship, she didn’t want to start off looking weak. Frederick had taught her that, long ago. ‘I know that you believe that Jazzie saw her mother’s killer. I know that your primary suspect is Jazzie’s father. I know that you’ve kept it a secret because you’re worried he’ll find out Jazzie was a witness and try to kill her too. I know that Jazzie hasn’t spoken in a month, except for saying “thank you” to me yesterday. And I know you’re hoping I can draw her out of her shell and get her to reveal what she actually saw. I’m not certain that’s a reasonable expectation, but I will do my best to get her to talk. That’s all.’

  He nodded once. ‘What you also need to know is that we believe this man killed three other people yesterday morning – a homeless addict, a dealer and a police officer. We believe the addict’s murder was planned. He’d been framed so that it looked like he killed Valerie Jarvis. The officer was murdered because he surprised the killer while the killer was dumping the addict’s body. The dealer was killed to provide a suspect for the officer’s murder.’

  Holy fucking shit. The man Fitzpatrick sought had murdered four people? But Taylor kept her expression neutral. ‘I understand,’ she said evenly. ‘That means if he’s cornered, he’ll strike out, and he’s unconcerned with collateral damage. If we draw his attention this afternoon, he will not hesitate to act, given the opportunity. He could easily kill again.’

  Fitzpatrick looked reluctantly impressed. ‘Exactly. I need to be sure you understand that although we will keep you protected at all times, there is still an element of risk.’

  Taylor considered his words carefully. ‘And if Jazzie does reveal what she saw that day? What then?’

  ‘It depends on what she says.’

  Taylor frowned at him, not bothering to hide her impatience. ‘Detective Fitzpatrick, you have just told me that this man has killed four people. Don’t play games with
me, please. If Jazzie IDs her father, what will you do? I assume you don’t know where he is, because if you did, you’d have brought him in for questioning. Will you put his face on the news and say he’s a wanted man?’

  Fitzpatrick held her gaze. ‘Probably.’

  ‘That would make Jazzie a target,’ Taylor said.

  ‘And you also, Taylor,’ Maggie said, sounding troubled.

  Taylor glanced across the desk. Maggie was watching the security camera feed, but she flicked her gaze back to Taylor. ‘Are you comfortable with that?’ Maggie added.

  Taylor turned it over in her mind. Her father would freak. Both of her fathers would freak. I should be freaking. But she wasn’t. In fact, she felt pretty damn calm. Go, me. ‘I’m not sure. What protection do you plan to provide, Detective Fitzpatrick? And for how long?’

  Fitzpatrick didn’t blink. ‘We’ll provide security here at the farm and at the apartment where Jazzie lives with her aunt. The farm is very secure already. You won’t have to worry.’

  Taylor smiled tightly. ‘Oh, I think I will. Worrying is my best skill. So basically I’d be stuck here, on the farm, for the duration of my stay?’

  He lifted his brows. ‘Is that a problem?’

  ‘Not for me. I came here to work.’

  ‘No,’ Fitzpatrick corrected in a tone that scraped, ‘you came to observe Clay.’

  Taylor drew a breath. Let it out. Stay cool. Stay calm. ‘That, too. But I am also here to work. So far I’m doing lessons every day. I don’t see that changing, unless Maggie becomes dissatisfied with my work, but that would be between Maggie and me. I am more concerned about Jazzie at this point. Will you put her in a safe house?’

  ‘If I find that it’s required, of course I will. For now, we plan to keep her in her aunt’s apartment, in the environment where she feels most comfortable. We will provide security so that she is safe. And if anyone comes after her, we’ll be ready for them.’

  Oh. Taylor’s eyes widened, her temper abruptly flaring to an instant boil as the detective’s meaning became suddenly clear. Sonofafuckingbitch. He’s using Jazzie for bait. Me too, to a lesser extent, but I’m an adult. I can choose this. But Detective Asshole wasn’t giving Jazzie any choice. Taylor had opened her mouth, was trying to form words that didn’t include profanity when the office door flew open, banging into the wall.

  JD jumped up, hand on his weapon, but dropped his hand to his side when Ford stormed in. ‘You sonofabitch,’ Ford snarled, his eyes flashing with fury. He got in JD’s face. ‘You’re using them for bait. For fucking bait! No way. No. Fucking. Way.’

  For a long moment, Taylor could only stare, stunned. And also captivated. Ford was . . . electric. Energy was coming off him in waves as his body vibrated with rage. God. He was absolutely gorgeous.

  And one breath away from punching Fitzpatrick in the face. Stowing her own rage for the moment, Taylor leapt to her feet and grabbed Ford’s arm, pulling him away from the detective. Ford let her move him, stepping backward until the back of his thighs hit Maggie’s desk.

  Taylor got in front of him, wrapping the fingers of one hand around his hard bicep, which continued to flex as he clenched and unclenched his fists, still at his sides. Her other hand she laid flat on his chest, gentling him. ‘Relax,’ she murmured.

  He stared down at her, his blue eyes as intense as the inside of a flame. ‘You will not be bait.’

  ‘You will not curse loudly in a barn full of child victims,’ she returned, patting his chest softly. It was heaving with the harsh breaths he drew. ‘You’ll scare the kids, Ford.’

  He swallowed hard, his throat working. He shuddered out a breath. ‘You will not be bait,’ he whispered. ‘No.’

  ‘I won’t be.’ Her jaw tightening, she threw a baleful glare at Fitzpatrick. ‘Jazzie will be. Which is not okay.’

  ‘You will be, too.’ Ford was no longer huffing like a bull. The fury in his eyes morphed into something else. It looked like pain, but she couldn’t be sure, because he jerked his gaze away from hers and stared over her shoulder at Fitzpatrick. ‘No bait.’

  ‘You’re not in charge here, Ford,’ Fitzpatrick said mildly. ‘But I get that you’re upset.’

  Ford gritted his teeth and his fists clenched again. ‘Do not patronize me, JD,’ he growled.

  Taylor glanced over her shoulder to see Fitzpatrick holding out his hands like a traffic cop. ‘We’ll discuss it further,’ he said. ‘For now, Taylor and Jazzie are just meeting for ice cream. If Jazzie doesn’t tell us anything, nothing changes. Neither Jazzie or Taylor is in any more danger than they are right at this moment. If Jazzie does talk, and if she saw her father, we will catch him before he can hurt anyone else.’

  ‘You cannot promise that,’ Ford said through clenched teeth. ‘Shit happens. You know this.’

  Fitzpatrick’s eyes softened. ‘Yeah, I do know. We’ll deal with it when we know more. Okay?’

  Ford said nothing. His seething was almost audible.

  Stevie cleared her throat and pushed to her feet, using her cane for balance. ‘I’m going to let Clay know what’s going on. I’ll smooth things over as best I can, JD.’ She paused next to Taylor and smiled. ‘Nice job, kid. You held your temper and calmed this one down.’ She tilted her head toward Ford, then met Taylor’s eyes, her own grown serious. ‘This is totally up to you. Nobody will blame you if you say no.’

  ‘She says no,’ Ford muttered.

  Taylor shook her head. ‘She says yes,’ she said, moving her hand from his chest to cover his mouth. ‘Go on in the house, Stevie. We’ll be there in a few minutes.’

  When Stevie was gone, Fitzpatrick closed the door. ‘So your answer is yes?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes.’ Taylor gritted her teeth, allowing some of her temper to surface. ‘Even though as plans go, yours truly sucks. She’s just a little girl, Detective.’

  ‘And if we do nothing, she might not live to be a big girl,’ Fitzpatrick said seriously.

  Taylor jerked a single nod. ‘I know. That’s why I say yes. She deserves a life – one without fear.’ She then leaned sideways to look at Maggie. ‘I assume you were watching your monitor because Ford was eavesdropping outside.’

  Maggie’s lips twitched. ‘Yes. I’m really surprised he lasted as long as he did before charging in here.’

  Taylor sighed. ‘Can you guys give us a few minutes? Please?’

  Maggie pushed away from her desk and walked around to where Fitzpatrick waited silently. The detective had gotten what he’d come for, so Taylor was sure he was keeping his mouth shut so as not to mess it all up. He and Maggie left, leaving her and Ford alone.

  Taylor patted Ford’s chest again and squeezed his arm. ‘Look at me.’ She waited until he had, his blue eyes still intense and angry. Impulsively she leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his, meaning just to give him a peck, but he growled against her mouth, his hands sliding around her waist to cover her butt.

  He lifted her effortlessly and in a few long strides had her back against the door. He took over the kiss and it was . . . Her brain short-circuited and she couldn’t think about anything but getting closer to him. She lifted her arms, locking them around his neck, and then her legs, gripping his hips, and she kissed him back. He licked her mouth and she opened for him, greedy for more.

  Hot. God, he was hot and he made her burn. Everywhere.

  He thrust against her and he was hard between her thighs. She closed her eyes and would have moaned, but he was still kissing her, like he was ravenous. Because he was. He’d had no one to give him affection, to touch him, in so long.

  She dropped her arms from his neck and tugged at the hem of his shirt, yanking it up when he bowed his back to give her space. Flattening her hands against hard muscle, she stroked his chest with wide, sweeping motions, then flicked at his nipples with her thumbs.


  That amped him higher and his thrusts became urgent. He grabbed the fabric of her sleeve in one hand and yanked it down, baring her shoulder, then tore his lips from hers and kissed his way down the side of her neck until he got to her bra strap. Letting go of her shirt, he pushed the strap down and fastened his open mouth to the skin where the strap had been, sucking hard.

  Hard. So hard she’d have a bruise. And there didn’t seem to be a reason for that to make her throb between her legs, but it did. She arched, pushing against him, feeling his hard length pushing back. And then he shoved his hand down her shirt to cover her breast with his palm, and she could feel his heat through the thin cotton of her bra.

  Her head fell back against the door and she closed her eyes, drinking in the feeling. ‘So good,’ she whispered. ‘That feels so damn good.’

  He straightened, leaving her shoulder to return to her mouth and his kiss was all grinding motion and stark demand. ‘I want you,’ he groaned into her mouth, his voice low and gravelly. ‘God, I want you.’

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered back, but she wasn’t sure what she was agreeing to. At the moment, she didn’t care.

  He moved the hand that cupped her breast, stroking up to pause at the edge of her bra, and she held her breath, waiting for him to delve inside, waiting for his touch against her bare skin. But he didn’t. For a long, long moment he hovered there, frozen, his eyes clenched shut. Then he exhaled on an almost silent groan, and moved his questing hand to her hip.

  Pressing his lips to the skin he’d sucked, he kissed her there, softly. Tenderly even. ‘Not here,’ he whispered. ‘You deserve more than this.’

  She lifted one trembling hand to his hair, sifting the soft strands through her fingers. He stood stock still, his lips still touching the place he’d sucked so hard. He was panting and so was she.

  ‘I do not want you to get hurt,’ he whispered against her shoulder.

  She wasn’t sure if he meant Gage Jarvis physically hurting her, or himself wounding her heart. Either was a fair concern. ‘I know,’ she murmured. She kept stroking his hair until he pulled his lips from her skin and set her bra strap and shirt to rights. Then he straightened his back and she let her legs slide down his until her feet touched the floor.