Murder Stalks by Sara York Page B

really want her?
    “ I got your number from
the club but it didn’t work.”
    Ally slapped her forehead with the palm of
her hand. That’s what she had forgotten to take care of. Work
needed her new number. She pulled herself out of the water, not
bothering with a towel.
    “ I had to change my phone
number,” She said as she squeezed water from her hair.
    “ You know, it should be
illegal for you to walk around like that.”
    Her face heated at his words. Unsure what to
say, Ally stood silent. A deep desire burned through her, leaving
her wanting Michael’s touch.
    “ Ally, can I drop by your
place tonight?”
    She paused, wondering if she should have him
over before they went out on a real date. He smiled, showing a cute
dimple and clean, straight teeth. Michael wasn’t mean, he was nice
and sweet. “I’m busy at the club until ten.”
    “ I’ll come by at eleven.
How’s that?” Michael lifted his hand and brushed a finger along her
clavicle. Delight ran through her, sending a welcome pulse to her
core.
    “ S—sure,” Ally stammered.
A date, well almost a date. Michael would be in her house at night.
Tonight, to be exact. Good thing her place was immaculate. No need
to clean for her hot date.
     
    ****
     
    Tony slowed his stroke and watched Michael
talk to the other swimmer. The woman was well built, more muscles
than most men he knew. She could probably do massive damage to both
he and Michael if she wanted. Muscles rippled on her body as she
pulled herself out of the water. He wondered what was going on
between her and Michael.
    Exhausted, yet refreshed, Tony pulled his
body out of the water and reached for his towel.
    “ Officer Rains, You here
to see me?” Tony pulled the towel across his back, drying the
flecks of water that clung to his skin.
    “ Yes, I need to talk to
you.”
    Tony could see the disappointment on the
young woman’s face. A cop's love life wasn’t always convenient. If
this woman wanted to stick around, she would have to learn that
hard lesson.
    “ Let me get dressed, then
we’ll talk. Meet me in the parking lot in ten.” Tony walked away
but didn’t miss Michael telling the woman he would see her
tonight.
    Tony stuffed his towel into his gym bag as
he walked to the parking lot where Michael waited by Tony’s car.
Marissa had always checked his trunk for wet towels. Now that task
was his. He was zero out of ten in getting the towel into the wash
before mold set in. Hoping to improve his record, Tony tossed the
bag into the backseat of his car before turning his attention to
Michael.
    “ I’ve got something you’re
going to want to hear about.” Michael leaned against Tony’s car.
The smile on his face was contagious. They needed a break on this
case, and if one of his team members came to him with news that had
him smiling, then it must be great.
    “ Go ahead, shoot. Tell me
something good.”
    “ This morning, a teacher
over in Freeport saw a suspicious car in the school’s parking lot.
She approached the car and found a man gratifying himself. She ran,
but he got to her before she could make it inside.”
    “ Damn. Did she
survive?”
    “ Yes, but she’s in
intensive care and won’t be cleared to talk to us for a day or
two.”
    Tony shook his head and gritted his teeth.
He hated the fact there were jerks out there that preyed on
children. His throat tightened as he thought about the kids who
were in danger from this freak. Something wasn’t right. Why was
Michael acting like he had good news about their case? “Freeport.
That’s about a two-hour drive from here. This guy, why is he
important to us, and why would I want to hear about this?”
    “ Get this. The guy
confessed to our murders.”
    “ What?” A cold chill raced
down Tony’s spine. Call it sixth sense or a cop’s instinct. He
didn’t believe it.
    “ Tony, the case is solved.
This guy confessed.”
    The words sunk into Tony’s skull and a brief
flash of elation erupted deep inside of him.