His stupid grin and flirty banter were making me feel better.
I had just planned on going home after talking with Lisa’s ex, but after seeing Kevin’s stupid car parked in my spot, I just didn’t feel like working to squeeze the Camaro in the only spot left, which was next to a big-ass truck.
So I drove off, with no destination in mind.
Then I found myself in front of Asher’s bar, thinking I needed a drink, and then convincing myself that was where I should have one since he’d give it to me for free. But deep down I think I just wanted to be around him.
The two weeks spent together when he was bringing me back to life as a cat meant something, even if I wanted to forget the humiliation.
I didn’t like to get close to people. But Asher saved me. He took care of me, and I had to rely on him to live. I lay with him every night for the warmth of his body, but I also think it was for a connection with someone. A touch, a hug, even a warm smile.
His black hair was messy, and his sharp features were drawing my eyes to roam over his face. The rest of him was clothed in a sweater and jeans. He looked good.
Good enough that I was tempted to come out from behind my wall of solitude and let him kiss me again, knowing that maybe it would be worth it, but maybe it wouldn’t.
When my gaze moved back up to collide with his, we just sort of stared into each other. Me trying to decide if I wanted to let these feelings flow as they wanted to, and him waiting for my answer.
I was torn, going back and forth between what would happen, and did I want that connection with him that I felt growing between us? So much was happening lately, and I felt like a ship caught in the waves of the vast sea.
My lips parted, trying to find the right thing to say in this moment, when my phone rang.
I quickly answered it but kept my eyes on Asher.
“Cross.”
“Twenty-third and Broadway, the Gateway apartment building, unit 14 B. You’re going to want to see this, Echo. The victim has been sliced up and has two cuts on her forehead. It’s got the same M.O. as your parents.”
“I’m on my way.” I didn’t even let the chief finish before I responded and ended the call.
“The killer got another victim. I’ve got to go.” I stood, slipping my phone back in my jacket pocket.
“I’m coming with.” Asher was already shrugging into a leather jacket while turning off lights with his magic.
“Shouldn’t you be running your bar?” I asked as we walked to the door together.
“It’s a slow night.” He smiled, locking up with a flick of his hand.
I hadn’t seen his bar to be very busy lately, but I heard the loud music and chatter from his apartment as a cat, so I’m guessing it kind of came and went.
My hands were gripping the steering wheel like it was a life preserver as we headed toward Broadway. I wanted this killer behind bars so badly.
Asher didn’t say anything, but I figured he would overhear what happened with my parents, so I wanted to be the one to break the ice on that topic.
“My parents were murdered when I turned sixteen. Cuts all over their bodies. My mom had slices between her shoulder blades, and my dad had two slits on his forehead. Both bled to death.” I stared at the road ahead of us, trying to figure out the best way to get around traffic without breaking any laws.
“The same as Lisa,” he stated, and I nodded, even though it wasn’t a question.
“The murders stopped after them, and the case was very cold. For some reason it looks like he or she has chosen now to make a comeback.”
At least this time I was better equipped to catch the son of a bitch.
I was one of the best detectives in Seahill. If anyone could find a killer, it would be me. Especially as motivated as I was.
A warm hand touched my shoulder, and I spared a glance at Asher.
“We will catch him.” It was a promise from his lips, and I felt his determination flowing through me like it was my own. We would catch this killer; there was no room for doubt in my mind.
Once parked, we walked past the yellow police line and rode the elevator up to the scene.
“I’m surprised no one has asked to see anything from you.” I voiced my thought aloud, genuinely curious if he had done some magic so no one would question him. I had already planned to tell Chief he was with me, and he wouldn’t question it.
Asher just looked at me with his cool swagger, his leather jacket making him look every bit the rebel he claimed to be.
“When you walk like you belong, no one questions it. All about confidence.” He winked, and I shook my head. He was right, of course, but I wasn’t going to let him know that I agreed with him. He wore confidence well, that was for sure.
“You going to be okay seeing this?” I saw him looking at me in the mirrors that surrounded the elevator walls. He was concerned for my state of mind, and while thoughtful, I could handle it.
“If I let this become too personal, I’ll be taken off the case for conflict of interest. I have to keep it professional and do my job.” Hopefully it would be easily done and not just easily said.
Chapter Fourteen
Asher
Death was never easy to see. Especially a malicious death. The energy in the air from seeing the woman on the floor in a puddle of her own blood was messing with my feel of the room.
Echo talked to her superior, who was eyeing me with a curious scowl but turned his attention to her while speaking about the woman.
Amanda Johnson. Twenty-six years old, volunteered at her church in the early mornings, then worked during the day shift as a nurse at Seahill Hospital in the psychiatric wing. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she pulled a night shift as a waitress at a seafood joint by the bay. She was just a young girl trying to make it in the city. Seahill was not cheap, but she seemed like she was doing okay. Her one-bedroom apartment, but it was nicely decorated. Tidy, but something didn’t feel right, and it wasn’t the woman on the ground giving me that feeling.
Echo put on some gloves and examined the body, hopefully able to gather something more with her animal instincts.
“When did the death occur?” she asked a red-haired woman with thick-rimmed glasses, who was jotting down notes.
“This morning. I’m going to go with about nine thirty. She was supposed to have dinner with the pastor’s wife today, but she missed her morning volunteer time at the church and didn’t show up for work. After a few calls with no answer, she was worried, and came to check on her. Found her like this.” She looked down at the woman with sadness in her eyes, but there was a distance in her emotions that most didn’t have. In this line of work, she saw a lot of bodies, best to think of them as bodies instead of people, in cases like this, I guessed.
“Obvious cause of death—she bled out. The small cuts are deep and were strategically placed over arteries where they would do maximum damage.” She continued talking, and I looked down, feeling bad for the poor girl. I didn’t know her but the energy around her apartment was good and clean. She had positivity around her, so how did she attract such evil?
“Whoever did this is skilled with a scalpel, and I can’t be one hundred percent positive until we test it back at the lab, but I see no signs of struggle, so I’m guessing that she had been drugged or something to make her still so the killer could slice her up like this.” The redhead wrote down some more things on her little pad, and then walked off to look around.
“That’s Serenity, our forensics specialist,” Echo clarified for me. Makes sense.